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SCLOA Social identity theory

6 important questions on SCLOA Social identity theory

Social Identity Theory (SIT)

is the theory that an individual's sense of who they are is developed on the basis of group membership, and this identity is shared by other members of the group

leads to formation of in-groups and out-groups

Social categorisation (step 1)

divides the social environment into in-groups, to which an individual belongs (us) and out-groups, to which the individual does not belong (them)
reduce perceived variability within the ingroup (we are all the same).
reduce perceived variability within the outgroup (they are all the same).
increase perceived variability between the ingroup and the outgroup (we are different from them).

What did Tajfel's experiment show?

It showed that even random allocation into meaningless groups was enough for a group to develop an identity and for in-group favouritsm to occur.

What is the relationship between self-serving bias and social identity theory?

Self-serving bias protects the self-esteem of the individual. In social identity theory, positive distinctiveness is the means by which the group protects the group self-esteem, and this is the group equivalent of self-serving bias.

What is it called when we exaggerate differences between groups and similarities within a group?

This is the category accentuation effect.

Explanation:
Exaggerating differences between groups and similarities within one's own group is to accentuate similarities and differences, and is called the category accentuation effect, as the categories into which people fall are thereby accentuated. We tend to use in-goup homogenity and out-group heterogenity whilst making these attributions.

What did Dobbs and Crano's study show?

It showed that when asked to justify their in-group favouritism, members of the majority group were likely to decrease their favouritsm, but members of the minority group were likely to increase their in-group favouritism.