Smith-Lovin Lynn, Robinson Dawn T. 2006. This essay will be looking to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the social identity theory with studies to support. Through creativity, people stay within the group but create counter-narratives as an attempt to claim higher social status for their group. Stereotypes help us navigate the world around us by providing a quick representation of what we think a person is like. His social learning theory is regarded as the bridge between cognitive and behaviorist learning theories which encompasses motivational processes, memory, and attention. As opposed to this, the social identity theory focuses on the different kinds of intergroup interactions are possible once group formation has occurred. Whether you need to fix, build, create or learn, eHow gives you practical solutions to the problems life throws at you. This theory is based around three mental processes, social categorization, social identification and social comparison. individuals who determine the rules of what they can do or cannot do based on their personal audit report are likely to have a more accurate and definite character. A weaknesses of the Social identity theory is that its application is restricted in the sense that it has very low ecological validity. In SIT, the focus is mainly on social identity, and particularly on how people come to identify to some groups and dissociate from others. 163-188 in Purpose, Meaning, and Action: Control System Theories in Sociology, edited byMcClelland Kent, Thomas Fararo New York: Palgrave MacMillan Press The Strengths and Weaknesses of Two Psychological Approaches to Identity: Social Identity Theory and the Social Constructionist Theories Social Identity Theory and the social constructionist theories have been especially influential in our current understanding of human's identity. The current forum is designed to assess the strengths and weaknesses of social identity, social dominance, and system justification as theoretical approaches to the study of intergroup relations. Explains that boys maximized differences between groups, even if it was potentially disadvantageous to their own group. SOCIAL 2D06E. In S. Worchel and W. G. Austin (eds.). It can be investigated using social identity theory as an important source of pride and self-esteem coming from the fact that a person is a member of a specific culture and as a way how. Traditionally, the feminist theory has five key standpoints (Parboteeah et al, 2003).The first perspective is liberal feminism, which considers gender role socialization as the source of women's oppression. The Social Identity theory assumes that individuals strive to improve their self-image by trying to enhance their self-esteem, through social (in and out groups) and personal identities. At the same time, not everyone identifies equally strongly with the nation of their birth or with the idea of loyalty and patriotism to any nation state at all. Weakness of marxist theory. Opines that genetics plays a monumental role in the formation of identity, but external factors play larger one. The concepts of In-group (the group you are a part of) and Out-group . he concluded that children who paritcipate in more acitivites are better off. One of these is Social categorization. Poor Predictive Power - It explains events, but doesn't really make predictions about the future (Brown, 2000) 2. On a lesser scale, this is seen in the cliques formed in grade school that sometimes encourage isolating out-group members or bullying. 2000). Cites clancy, s. (director), theoretical perspectives in social psychology, mcmaster university, hamilton. The converse of this behaviour is that we see an increase in negative behaviours towards those with whom we feel have conflicting goals and essentially belong to an out group. Based on the name it is very self explanatory, with the social categorization there is the need to divide, categorizing individuals into groups (in and out groups). People are influenced on the group they belong to. Explains the three mental processes involved in evaluating "us" and "them": categorization, social identification, and social comparison. Individual identities come from group membership. A social identity can sometimes be very close to one's personal identity, but the differences between the two is caused by social pressures and obligations, and the extent to which it differs is based on many factors such as race, heritage, age, etc. Evaluating the Strengths and Weaknesses of the Social Identity Theory. Explains the strengths and weaknesses of the social identity theory, stating that it has low ecological validity and favors situational factors. Social identity theory has been criticized as being more explanatory than predictive in nature. - Cialdini et al (1976) analyzed US university uni football scores; when a team won students tended to wear . Tajfel (1979) proposed that the groups (e.g. Henri Tajfel (1919-82), a Jew survivor of the Nazi regime, developed what is now called the Social Identity Theory (SIT) in an attempt to understand the processes involved in the relationships between groups, and the causes and effects of prejudice (Hogg and Abrams, 1999, as cited in Phoenix, 2007). Explains that identity is not inborn but is constructed and maintained in social interaction. An in-group is a social grouping that an individual identifies with. Its main argument is that people develop their identity through interaction with society. Explains that social identity theory involves the category accentuation effect, which is an exaggeration of groups and this can either be underestimated or overestimates. When a stereotype is used it can cause a disruption of procedures. For example, there is currently ethnic conflict in Myanmar between Buddhists and Muslims. Sets, JE. Which theory gives importance to identity? The Category accentuation effect is when exaggeration of intergroup differences. Strengths And Weaknesses Of The Socio-Ecological Framework. It is a formal concept or set of ideas that aim to explain something. They interpreted these findings by suggesting that prejudice against outgroups was in fact a way to boost the individuals self-esteem by making those comparison groups seem inferior. Strengths of Social Identity Theory Weaknesses of Social Identity Theory; 1. They may perceive that they can achieve greater status by identifying with a different group. Explains that in social identity theory, stereotypes serve to create identity, but, they could also constrain identity. Developing Cooleys ideas further, Mead built the theory of symbolic interactions (one of three core sociological paradigms), according to which individuals develop their understanding of the world, including their idea of the self by interacting with others around them. Cites glasgow, joshua, "racism as disrespect." Explains that despite the existence of principles, many individuals are not able to clearly follow them. These are quite diverse and align to an individual's personality. Explains that social identity is used to explain social phenomena in terms of intergroup behaviors such as ethnocentrism, ingroup favoritism, and stereotypical thinking. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. The social Identity theory can be used to how to explain how we form our social and personal identities in the terms of in and out groups. The social identity theory of intergroup behavior. (1) People first categorize themselves and others into social groups based on external or internal criteria. A modern day example of the social identity theory would be your everyday high school cheerleaders versus band members. thinkquest, 2001. The Social Identity theory, proposed by Henry Tajfel in the 1970s is designed to explain and help aid in the understanding of how it is one might develop a connection and belonging to particular groups within society; but more importantly providing an understanding as to how the mechanics of discrimination regarding other groups work. There are 4 main concepts within the social identity theory all of which will be discussed in the essay. This essay will be looking to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the social identity theory with studies to support. Sociological theory seeks to fill in the gaps and provide information about how facts are related to each other within a social structure; it attempts to make sense of human behavior. The SIT is based on the assumption that people may try to improve their self-image by trying to boost their self-esteem, based on either personal or social identities that may be caused by either in-groups or out-groups. Lemyre and Smith (1985) replicated Tajfel's research + found discrimination pps had improved self-esteem following the experiment. if two identical twins separated at birth, in poverty-stricken areas with absentee parental figures, the two people will grow and become two very different people. Not all the virtues can belong together in a single person. Our social identity contributes to our self-image so we look for positive social identities to keep a high self-esteem. our belonging to a nation state is likely to be an important part of the answer. an individual cannot have a definite identity without having behaviour that can be described by other people. The social identity theory explains how people develop their identities. psychology today. The social identity theory is based on four main concepts; social categorization, which is the tendency to divide and categorize people into in-groups and out-group; category accentuation effect,show more content. 9 Which is the weakest form of identity theory? Social identity theory states that individuals construct at least a part of their identity through membership within social groups. Most fraternities and sororities are named after Greek letters (such as Psi Sigma Kappa). The strengths are that it is supported by high amounts of empirical studies; shows the role of social categorization in intergroup behaviours; the difference between personal identity and social identity; explores how the basic need to fit in affects social interaction; contributes to explanation of other areas of social psychology; and the The ideas within this theory can vary from singular descriptions of an idea, person, or place to complex social paradigms. Analyzes how the film "the hunger games" depicts society under a harsher context than what we experience in our reality. their identification with groups might be weak). Combining these factors gives us a better and more holistic understanding of political and societal phenomena. however, it is utmost importance that the leaders represent the group well and have unwarranted trustworthiness. Both have taken. All rights reserved. simply psychology, 2008. For others, intergroup interaction might be dominant ( i.e. . The theory also specifies the ways in which social identity can influence intergroup . The Social Identity theory assumes that individuals . Analyzes the impact of social identity on worker competition in a chinese textile firm. Opines that some studies are outdated and should be redone with more modern questions and results. Overall, theory helps us as sociologist with conceptualizing our research and . However, most people have a challenge in proving their identity. Thereby I draw on the approach of Berger and Luckmann (1966), whose seminal text on the social construction of reality laid the foundation for the sociology of knowledge.This theory, which has its roots in phenomenology and interactionism but also relies on key assumptions of structural functionalism in the . It is the specific characteristic that is associated with a particular individual. It is the perception of the in-group and out-group phenomenon that leads to the further development of stereotypes and biases, while.