Definition
Theoretical approach to intra- and intergroup life emphasizing the importance of positive group distinctiveness (i.e., favorable comparisons to other groups).
Introduction
Social identity theory (SIT) was developed by Henri Tajfel in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In part, his theoretical approach recognized that many other approaches to phenomena such as intergroup relations relied heavily on notions of intergroup competition (largely for tangible resources, such as oil or land) and on individual differences (e.g., authoritarianism) as explanations for group life. Underlying SIT is a simple yet elegant idea: at any particular moment in time, humans categorize themselves along a continuum ranging from a completely personal and idiosyncratic identity (emphasizing the aspects that make us distinct from others) to a completely social or group identity (emphasizing the common aspects shared with ingroup members). In essence this distinction captures one’s conceptualization or...
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References
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Hodson, G., Earle, M. (2017). Social Identity Theory (SIT). In: Zeigler-Hill, V., Shackelford, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_1185-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_1185-1
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