The human being is a social being. This definition is familiar to us and, in turn, makes us reflect on the position we adopt as people as we go through life. The study of human beings has sparked the interest of many authors in seeking answers to unknowns such as the influence of social groups.
If you are interested in knowing more about the value of being in contact with various social groups, what influence places of belonging have or the factors that influence socialization, the information that we will present below may interest you. Specifically, in this Online Psychology article we will talk about the Tajfel’s social identity theory: characteristics, examples and criticisms.
What is Tajfel’s theory of social identity
Social identity theory was postulated by Henry Tajfel, a social psychologist who studied the behaviors of human beings when they are linked to certain social groups. In this way, he was able to formulate the conclusion that membership in a social group with certain characteristics modifies and shapes individual aspects of each person.
In other words, it is possible to achieve one’s own identity through the social bond in a group. In this article, we tell you.
Characteristics of Tajfel’s social identity theory
Tajfel’s theory of social identity has two relevant characteristics that must be taken into account. Next, we will explain what they are:
- Selfconcept: self-knowledge in relation to social interactions. In this way, the personal perception of the social bond and the emotional meaning it has for each person is increased. Furthermore, it must be taken into account that membership in various social groups can change depending on the characteristics that come into play. In fact, it can have a positive orientation, since differences with other social groups arise.
- Accentuation principle: cIt consists of maximizing positive aspects of the person who is in contact with a social group. In this sense, it is worth noting that a comparison occurs with other social groups that may reflect the idea of superiority or inferiority. This variable will depend on how the group dynamics are organized.
Furthermore, in his theory of social identity Tajfel makes a distinction from the notion of group. On the one hand, the group belonging to which highlights positive characteristics is called ingroup, while people belonging to other social groups are classified as adversaries and placed in a group called outgroup.
Phases of Tajfel’s social identity theory
According to Tajfel’s theory of social identity, one goes through three phases to achieve belonging to an ingroup or an outgroup. In this section, we will see what they are:
- Categorization phase: tendency of a person to classify themselves and other people within certain social groups to achieve self-concept.
- Social identification phase: cWhen social identification is consolidated, the person tries to act according to the norms embedded in the social group to which they belong. This has an emotional impact on self-perception.
- Social comparison phase: the fact of belonging to a certain social group produces a comparison with members of other outgroups. At the same time, negative aspects of the outgroup are highlighted and they perceive more positive aptitudes of the group they belong to. Discover .
Examples of Tajfel’s social identity theory
In order to clarify possible doubts surrounding Tajfel’s theory of social identity, we will exemplify the most characteristic aspects of it with everyday situations:
- A person is a fan of a football team: The fact of belonging to a sports institution gives you a frame of reference that identifies you with certain positive qualities. On the other hand, negative aspects are attributed to other institutions.
- A woman adheres to certain political ideas: Membership in a political party can provide you with a place of identification that implies a positive evaluation of your personality. In turn, it will tend to devalue other political parties with different ideals, since they are seen as adversaries.
Criticisms of Tajfel’s social identity theory
Beyond the issues that stand out in Tajfel’s theory of social identity, the truth is that it has received some criticism. In this section, we will mention the most relevant ones:
- Minimization of individualism: This theory emphasizes how social influence develops personality. However, the notion of the own and individual aspects of each human being seems to remain in the background and unimportant.
- Reducing the role of culture: Beyond the group considerations that are manifested in this theoretical framework, it is important to question the role that culture and history have in the emergence of group behaviors, given that the theory gives greater importance to social factors.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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Bibliography
- Peris Pichastor, R., Agut Nieto, S. (2007). Conceptual evolution of social identity. The return of emotional processes. Electronic Magazine of Motivation and Emotion, 10 (26), 1-10.
- Scandroglio, B., López Martínez, J., San José Sebastián, MC (2008). The theory of social identity: a critical synthesis of its foundations, evidence and controversies. Psicothema Magazine, 20 (1), 80-89.