Transcript Social Identity Theory

Social Identity Theory
In-Group / Out-Group Syndrome
& Violence
Social Identity
• A social-psychological theory formed to
understand the way in which humans
formulate their identity (their Self)
especially as we do this in relation to
other groups of people.
• This theory is particularly interested
with the concept of In-Group/OutGroup syndrome.
Social Identity, continued
• Categorization: We often put others
(and ourselves) into categories. Labeling
someone a Muslim, a Turk, or a soccer
player are ways of saying other things
about these people.
• Identification: We also associate with
certain groups (our in-groups), which
serves to bolster our self-esteem.
Social Identity, continued
• Comparison: We compare our groups
with other groups, seeing a favorable
bias toward the group to which we
belong.
• Psychological Distinctiveness: We
desire our identity to be both distinct
from and positively compared with
other groups.
Racism & Social Identity
• Numerous posters and cartoons have been
employed for decades to draw stark lines
between American citizens as either in-groups
or out-groups. This approach to information is
called “propaganda.”
• By creating division between one group of
humans and another, parties in power can
create public support and consent for their
political goals.
Racism
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World War II
• Moving into WWII, propaganda began to be
employed to encourage support of American
involvement.
• Enemy combatants – primarily the Germans
and especially the Japanese, came to be
dehumanized in their depictions in the media,
an approach that powerful interests continue
to embrace today.
World War II
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Communism
Communism
• After World War II, we entered the Cold War –
a time marked by a continuing state of
political conflict, military tension, and
economic competition, primarily with the
USSR – the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
• In America, this manifested as the “Red
Scare,” the fear that communism would upset
the capitalist social order in the United States.
Communism, continued
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War On Terror
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