This is a compulsory theory so everyone learns it and the Examiner will expect you to know it in detail. While the Exam could ask general questions about the theory's ideas or evaluation, it could also ask specific questions, like, How does Social Identity explain genocide? or, What explanations does Social Identity give of gangs? or, What makes Social Identity credible (or flawed) as a theory of prejudice? Make sure you can explain the STRENGTHS of this theory as well as the weaknesses.
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TAJFEL & TURNER (1979)
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Tajfel & Turner argue that self-esteem is at the core of social identity. We need to feel good about ourselves so we need to feel good about the groups we belong to.
- Not everyone identifies with their ingroup to the same extent. Personality may be a variable here, such as Adorno’s Authoritarian Personality Type: people who get their self-esteem from social identity rather than personal identity.
- There needs to be grounds for making comparisons with other groups. Social Comparison doesn’t happen with respect to outgroups you never meet or who aren’t relevant to your life. Football fans tend to compare themselves to supporters of a rival club, but not to teams in much higher or lower leagues.
RESEARCH INTO SOCIAL IDENTITY THEORY
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APPLYING SOCIAL IDENTITY THEORY (AO2)
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EVALUATING SOCIAL IDENTITY THEORY (AO3)
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EXEMPLAR ESSAY
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