SOCIAL IDENTITY

Self-concept encompasses personal identity (idiosyncratic characteristics likely psychological traits, bodily attributes, abilities, interests, etc.) and social identity. Group membership is central to a person’s identity, and constitutes the core of social identity, which entails the acknowledgment of belonging to a particular social group and the emotional and evaluative meaning of that belonging.  

Social Identity Theory is a major social psychology theory on group membership, processes, and intergroup relations. It aims to understand which psychological aspects unite a group and what makes it recognized as such (e.g., nation, religion). This theory’s main assumption is that self-identity is defined based on the recognition of group membership, which influences the individual self-concept and self-esteem.  

Social Identity Theory relies on the premise that collective phenomena cannot be adequately explained in terms of isolated individual processes or interpersonal interaction alone and emphasizes that individuals use several social categories to classify themselves and others, which are defined by prototypical characteristics of the group members. It brings together a set of different interrelated concepts and sub-theories based on socio-cognitive, motivational, socio-interactive and macro-social aspects of group life. Moreover, Social Identity Theory stresses the value attached to being a member of a group, asserting that people strive to attain a positive through favourable social comparisons with other groups, as a means of enhancing self-esteem and feeling included and valued (Ellemers et al., 2013; Reese et al., 2013; Tajfel & Turner, 1986). 

American Psychological Association. (2024). Self-concept. [Online APA Dictionary of Psychology]. Retrieved November 19, 2024, from https://dictionary.apa.org/self-concept. 

American Psychological Association. (2024). Social identity theory. [Online APA Dictionary of Psychology]. Retrieved November 19, 2024, from https://dictionary.apa.org/social-identity-theory 

Ashforth, Blake E., and Frederic Mael. (1989). “Social Identity Theory and the Organization.” Academy of Management Review 14, no. 1 (January): 20-39. 

Ellemers, Natalie, Elaine Sleebos, Dick H. P. Stam, and David D. Gilder. (2013). “Feeling Included and Valued: How Perceived Respect Affects Positive Team Identity and Willingness to Invest in the Team.” British Journal of Management 24, no. 1 (January): 21-37.  

Hogg, Michael A. “Social Identity Theory.” In Contemporary Social Psychological Theories: Second Edition, edited by Peter J. Burke, 112-138. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2018. 

Reese, G., Steffens, M. C., & Jonas, K. J. (2013). “When Black Sheep Make Us Think: Information Processing and Devaluation of In- and Outgroup Norm Deviants.” Social Cognition 31, no. 4 (July): 482-503. 

Scheepers, Daan, and Natalie Ellemers. “Social Identity Theory.” In Social Psychology in Action, edited by Karin Sassenberg and Marijke Vliek, 189-210. Cham: Springer, 2019.  

Tajfel, H., & Turner, J. C. “An Integrative Theory of Intergroup Conflict.” In Psychology of Intergroup Relations, edited by S. Worchel and W. G. Austin, 33–47. Monterey, CA: Brooks/Cole, 1979. 

Tajfel, Henri. (1981). Human groups and social categories. Cambridge University Press. 

Tajfel, H., & Turner, J. C. “The Social Identity Theory of Intergroup Behavior.” In Psychology of Intergroup Relations, 2nd ed., edited by S. Worchel and W. G. Austin, 7–24. Chicago: Nelson-Hall, 1986. 

Turner, J. C. (1975). Social comparison and social identity: Some prospects for intergroup behavior. European Journal of Social Psychology 5, no. 1: 1–29. doi: 10.1002/ejsp.2420050102. 

Turner, John C. “Social Categorization and the Self-Concept: A Social-Cognitive Theory of Group Behavior.” In Advances in Group Processes: Theory and Research, edited by Edward J. Lawler, vol. 2, 77-122. Greenwich, CT: JAI Press, 1985. 

Turner, John C., Michael A. Hogg, Penelope J. Oakes, Stephen D. Reicher, and Margaret S. Wetherell. Rediscovering the Social Group: A Self-Categorization Theory. Basil Blackwell, 1987.