2. Whatclubsandgroupsdoyouidentifywith?
• The curious case of Sherlock
Holmes.
• I am a detective
• I am a genius.
• I am an inventor.
• I am British
• I am a boxer.
• I am a Londoner
• I am Male.
• I am a Baker Street resident.
• I am a friend of Dr. Watson.
• I am a European.
My membership of
these groups means
that I value these
groups and would
defend these groups if
they were to be
criticized.
3. Social Identity Theory says…
• According to Social Identity Theory,
• We all belong to social groups and as
members we often compare the groups
status and power in relation to other
groups.
• Manchester United supporters love reminding
Liverpool supporters that they have a higher
success rate in the English Premier League.
• Northern Irish Catholics in North Belfast protest
that Orange Order Parades keep marching in
proximity to their residential areas.
• African Americans in the USA celebrate the
election of the first African American President.
4. • Social Identity not only describes what one believes but it
prescribes what its members should believe?
• What believes do you think the following groups prescribe?
• The Codrington School,
• The Barbados Labour Party,
• The Chelsea Supporters Club,
• The University of Yale,
• The French,
• The National Rifle Association.
5. As social group members.
• We subscribe to the believes of the social group.
• We favour our own group.
• We take an interest in advancing our own group.
• We identify with differences between our group and other
groups.
6. The Goals of the group.
• According to Tajfel and Turner (1979)
• The Individual in a social groups operates in the goal of enhancement.
This is based on the esteem of the group.
• There are 2belief systems to achieve enhancement. One is connected to 2
additional beliefs.
• 1. Social mobility belief system
• Belief that intergroup boundaries are permeable. Thus, it is possible for someone to pass from a lower-
status into a higher-status group to improve social identity.
• 2.Social change belief system
• Belief that intergroup boundaries are impermeable. Therefore, a lower-status individual can improve
social identity only by challenging the legitimacy of the higher-status group's position.
• Cognitive alternatives
• Belief that the status quo is unstable and illegitimate, and that social competition with the dominant
group is the appropriate strategy, to improve social identity.
• Social creativity
• Group-based behavioral strategies that improve social identity. but do not directly attack the dominant
group's position.
8. Can you explain the following actions
using Social Identity Theory?
• 1. ETA, a militant Basque organisation plants a bomb in Madrid
because they favour Basque independence from Spain.
• 3. Moldova wants to join Romania and become one country,
and people in Romania generally are wealthier than
Moldavians.
4. In areas of poverty in Wales, people have become more
patriotic and are learning Welsh and favoring cultural
differentiation from England.
5. In 1960s USA and South Africa, the ‘Black is beautiful’
movement encouraging people of African descent to adopt
African hairstyles and fashions.
• 6. People in Quebec, send letters of ‘Solidarity’ to people in
Palestine because they both perceive themselves to be unfree.
9. In the crowd???
• 1. The individual does not lose an identity, but adopts an identity
with the social group.
• 2. Depending on the meeting, the social group behave according to
the general rules of the group.
• 3. The relationship between groups creates the base of how the
groups will interact. For example, Manchester United Fans at a
meeting with Liverpool fans automatically carries the assumption of
‘rivalry’
- Where as two Christian groups are less likely to riot because both
group rules against rioting, this does not apply to football fans.
• 4. The esteem of the group and the general beliefs of the group
regarding how to enhance the group play a role in guiding behaviour.
10. Exam Question:
• Compare and contrast the theories of Deindividuation and
Social Identity Theory to explain anti-social behaviour within
crowds.
