Social Identification Theory

Social Identification Theories (SIT)

Cultural identity and intergroup relations

SIT evolve from social cognition theories

• Examine the ways people perceive themselves and others and process information about in-groups and out-groups.

• Ethnic and cultural identity form the core of conceptual frameworks and link self-definition to group membership

SIT and modern, cognitive

psychology theories

• Theories focus on internal mental processes; how groups see each other; how prejudice arises; why people leave certain groups and not others; how group membership affects self-esteem

• Group level perceptions, attributions, expectations, attitudes and values

Acculturating individuals must

consider:“Who am I?”

“How do members of my group relate to other groups?”

Theoretical Perspectives

•Acculturation models and measurements

•Social Identity Theory (SIT)

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Acculturation and Identity

• Involves the recognition, categorization or self-identification of oneself as a member of an ethnocultural group

• Includes a sense of pride and a positive evaluation of one’s group

• Focuses on broad identity changes

Acculturation and Identity

• Balance model of acculturation: biculturalism is seen as middle-ground between assimilation and separatism

• Replaces unidirectional models

Modern theories

• Conceptualize home and host culture identity as independent rather than interdependent

• Categorical Approach: concerns maintenance of heritage culture and relationships with out-groups; examines acculturation attitudes and strategies (pg 102, Ward)

Core research on identity and acculturation

• Examines components of identity and how identity is changed over time; conditions associated with identity and identity change; characteristics of the individual such as age, gender and education, and the characteristics of migrant groups such as push/pull motivations and cultural similarity

• Considers policies of receiving society (mono- or multiculturalism, loose/tight systems)

Tajfel and SIT

Three major defining features:• It’s part of the self concept• It requires awareness of

membership in a group• It has evaluative and emotional

significance

Self-esteem and SIT

• Involves the recognition that various in/out groups exist and may be compared. Favorable/unfavorable comparisons have consequences for self-esteem.

• A relationship between ethnic identity and self-esteem occurs only in cases when an individual consciously perceives ethnicity or culture as a central, salient feature of identity.

Intergroup Bias and Attributions

In-group favoritism:• Individuals are more likely to

make internal attributions for positive behaviors by in-groups and external attributions for the same behaviors by out-groups

• Increases when identity in under threat

Responses to out-group devaluation

Migrants and minorities are often subjected to negative stereotyping and prejudicial attitudes by members of the majority. If perceived as threatening, individual’s may adopt a variety of responses to change their social identities and restore self-esteem.

Table 5.1, pg 105 (Ward)

Identity, Acculturation and Intercultural

Contact• Individuals define, redefine and construct their own and others’ ethnicity

• When acculturation starts early it proceeds more smoothly

• Assimilation may proceed more rapidly in males than females, and women have more negative attitudes toward assimilation

Cultural Identity Across Generations

First generation is often separatist, retaining a strong identity with heritage culture

Second generation more easily identifies with host culture

Third generation often emerge as re-affirmationists with a renewed interest in ethnic customs, values and behaviors

Distinction between cognitive

and behavioral aspects of

acculturationImmigrants and refugees are more willing to learn new behaviors and skills than change their attitudes and values

Success in new environment involves skills acquisition that may be independent of changes in self-concept and core values

Quality and Quantity of Contact

• Greater exposure to the host culture is associated with stronger assimilative responses

• increased length of residence strengthens host culture identity and weakens home culture identity

• Perceived attitudes by hosts influence self-identity

Acculturation and Adaptation

Home-culture and host-culture identification make independent contributions to cross-cultural adjustment and influence different adjustment domains:

• Identification with culture of origin is associated with better psychological adjustment

• Identification with contact culture in linked to better sociopolitical adaptation

Intergroup Perceptions and Relations

SIT emphasizes the importance of social categorization, comparison and in-group favoritism, yet research supports an ‘integrationist’ preference by migrant groups

Emerging social identities may be negatively affected by out-group stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination

Attributions and Stereotypes

• Attributions refer to causal explanations about human behavior

• Influenced by motivational biases such as the need to maintain and enhance self-esteem (internal/dispositional vs. external/situational factors)

• Self-serving bias: tendency to accept credit for success and deny responsibility for failure (also at the group level)

Self-serving bias among groups

Israeli students in the U.S. gave more internal attributions for Israeli moral acts and fewer internal attributions for Israeli immoral acts than Arab students, and vice versa (Rosenburg and Wolsfeld, 1977)

Intergroup Stereotypes

• Negative out-group stereotypes have significant implications for prejudice and discrimination in receiving societies

• Social psychological theory suggests that increased contact—at least under certain conditions—may improve perceptions and relations

• ‘crystallization’ hypothesis: increased contact may sharpen intergroup perceptions

Prerequisites for positive perceptions:

• Equal status

• Pursuit of common goals

• Contact of an intimate, rather than casual nature

• Broader social climate supports intergroup contact

(Amir and Ben-Ari, 1988)

Perceived Discrimination

• Associated with less willingness to adopt to host culture identity and negative outcomes (increased stress, identity conflict, depression and social skills deficits)

• Immigrant strategies in response include assimilation, attempting to pass as members of the dominant society, selecting alternative groups for social comparison, reevaluating in-group stereotypes, social action for group betterment

SIT and Multicultural Ideology

Most acculturation theories regard assimilation as an inevitable consequence of migration, which limits the maintenance of cultural identity in sojourners.

SIT argues that positive social comparisons, involving in-group favoritism/out-group devaluation are a primary source of self-esteem enhancement—suggesting that prejudice, discrimination and conflict are inevitable.

“Multicultural Assumption”

The development and maintenance of a secure in-group identity can lead to greater intergroup acceptance and tolerance

The sociopolitical context in which intercultural relations occur involves ethnocentric biases that favor assimilation as a natural outcome of acculturation