Social Identity Theory Essay

Theories are a map of a unfamiliar city, they help us understand behaviours and attitudes (Lecture Recording). The social identity theory was developed by Tafel and Turner, 1979 and refers to the intergroup relations (Text). Social identity theory is of group membership and intergroup associations based on self-categorisation, self-comparison and the ideas of shared self-definition in terms of in-group defining aspects (Text). Self-categorisation is the ordering of people as members of different social groups or nations, it provides supporters with a social identity, the in-group (Text). People identify with groups to ease uncertainty and also strive to favour themselves above relevant out-groups (Text). We construct and modify our normative

It also may lead to stereotyping, prejudice and ethnocentrism towards the out-group (Lecture). Social-comparison is comparing our group behaviours and opinions with those of other groups in a attempt to establish correct and socially accepted ways of thinking and behaving (Text). The social-comparison component allows for greater value to be placed on the in-group, similarly behaving in the exact opposite to the out-group is comparing. The contrast of a shared self-defining properties are the features that define the group, that define the group and mutual to group members (Lecture). Group members who classify with a group, therefore align their own attitudes and behaviours with individuals of other in-group members (Nickerson). The values, attitudes and intentions are shared by group members and are self-defining properties, when the in-groups value, definition or very existence is under threat hostility to outgroup starts (Hogg). The social identity approach allows a strong prediction that citizens will be negative towards asylum seekers

If the group norm encourages prejudice, citizens will internalise prejudice attitudes and liberally express them behaviourally (Louis), e.g. I just don’t like asylum seekers. Pehrson study suggests that prejudice may be shaped by the way which a individual defines their group. How a nation defines their nationality can be expected to determine the consequences of national identification for prejudice (Pehrson). When asylum seekers break Australian laws by arriving by boat, they are instantly viewed as law breaks in Australian citizen’s eyes. For example, a Australian citizen may define their national identification as ‘Aussie’ with all the surroundings of this group. This also escalates negative attitudes towards individuals who do not fit the national identification (Pehrson). Nationalism is the ideology association with its fundamental values being the pursuit (or preservation) of national autonomy, unity and identification (Pehrson). Individual Australian citizens show support for nationality by accepting and apprising in humane treatment of asylum seekers through laws. Ethnocentrism implies that citizens inevitably degrades out-groups as a consequence of belonging to the group