What are the steps to the social identity theory?

Question 1

What are the four steps to the social identity theory?

Answer 1

1. Social categorisation
2. Social identification
3. Social comparison
4. Positive distinctiveness

Question 2

What does social categorisation mean?

Answer 2

the process by which we identify which groups we belong to and which groups we do not.
- in-groups (we, us)
- Out-groups (they, them)

Question 3

What does social identification mean?

Answer 3

the process of adopting the norms of the group and taking on the characteristics of the group.
- This takes place after deciding to belong to the group

Question 4

What does social comparison mean?

Answer 4

a means of justifying one’s group membership by comparing their in-groups with out-groups

Question 5

What does positive distinctiveness mean?

Answer 5

seeking to increase self-esteem by positively comparing our in-group to an out-group on some valued dimension to achieve positive distinctiveness.
- A motivation to show that an in-group is preferable to an out-group