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Understanding Peace and Conflict Through Social Identity Theory pp 3–17Cite as

Social Identity Theory

Part of the Peace Psychology Book Series book series (PPBS)

Abstract

Social identity theory is an interactionist social psychological theory of the role of self-conception and associated cognitive processes and social beliefs in group processes and intergroup relations. Originally introduced in the 1970s primarily as an account of intergroup relations, it was significantly developed at the start of the 1980s as a general account of group processes and the nature of the social group. Since then, social identity theory has been significantly extended through a range of sub-theories that focus on social influence and group norms, leadership within and between groups, self-enhancement and uncertainty reduction motivations, deindividuation and collective behavior, social mobilization and protest, and marginalization and deviance within groups. The theory has also been applied and developed to explain organizational phenomena and the dynamics of language and speech style as identity symbols. Chapter 1 provides a relatively comprehensive and accessible overview of social identity theory, with an emphasis on its analysis of intergroup conflict.

Keywords

  • Social identity theory
  • Group processes
  • Intergroup behavior
  • Social influence
  • Self and identity

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Claremont Graduate University, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Michael A. Hogg

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  1. Michael A. Hogg
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Correspondence to Michael A. Hogg .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Education, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom

    Shelley McKeown

  2. Department of Psychology, Laurentian University, Barrie, Ontario, Canada

    Reeshma Haji

  3. Department of Psychology, Liverpool Hope University, Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom

    Neil Ferguson

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Hogg, M.A. (2016). Social Identity Theory. In: McKeown, S., Haji, R., Ferguson, N. (eds) Understanding Peace and Conflict Through Social Identity Theory. Peace Psychology Book Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-29869-6_1

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