In Group Identity And Out Group Conformity
Y183 Starting with psychology
TMA02
In the area of social psychology individuals are studied in order to observe how they interact with people and how they influence one another. Relationships are an intrinsic part of everyday life. This goes beyond those close relationships between family and friends, to more complex relationships within groups. There are many social influences on people, such as social roles, group identity and cultural context. Sharing a social identity can promote feelings of belonging, but can also encourage us to behave in ways we might not have if we hadn’t been supported by the group. This essay will explore this in more detail. Drawing on evidence that focuses on the positive and negative aspects of In group and Out group identification and group conformity. First it will explain Social Identity Theory, a psychological theory used by some social psychologists (Spoors et al 2011). …show more content…
When humans meet for the first time certain questions may be asked such as ‘Where are you from?’ ‘What do you do for work?’, these questions are all about trying to find out the other persons social identity, their position in society. Social identity theory first developed by Tajfell and Turner (1979) says that this is done in order to put people into social categories and groups. When human beings have a shared social identity and/or belong to the same groups they feel a sense of belonging, taking on the groups identity in their own and others eyes. They become part of the group and gain meaning and status from belonging to that group. As a result of this group identification comparisons about those belonging to the In group will be made, viewing themselves in positive terms, and viewing those in the Out group in negative terms. These positive thoughts about the in group boost self esteem and encourages out group discrimination and hostility (Spoors et al
TMA02
In the area of social psychology individuals are studied in order to observe how they interact with people and how they influence one another. Relationships are an intrinsic part of everyday life. This goes beyond those close relationships between family and friends, to more complex relationships within groups. There are many social influences on people, such as social roles, group identity and cultural context. Sharing a social identity can promote feelings of belonging, but can also encourage us to behave in ways we might not have if we hadn’t been supported by the group. This essay will explore this in more detail. Drawing on evidence that focuses on the positive and negative aspects of In group and Out group identification and group conformity. First it will explain Social Identity Theory, a psychological theory used by some social psychologists (Spoors et al 2011). …show more content…
When humans meet for the first time certain questions may be asked such as ‘Where are you from?’ ‘What do you do for work?’, these questions are all about trying to find out the other persons social identity, their position in society. Social identity theory first developed by Tajfell and Turner (1979) says that this is done in order to put people into social categories and groups. When human beings have a shared social identity and/or belong to the same groups they feel a sense of belonging, taking on the groups identity in their own and others eyes. They become part of the group and gain meaning and status from belonging to that group. As a result of this group identification comparisons about those belonging to the In group will be made, viewing themselves in positive terms, and viewing those in the Out group in negative terms. These positive thoughts about the in group boost self esteem and encourages out group discrimination and hostility (Spoors et al