Theory 68: Social Identity Theory

Number of Constructs: 16
Number of Triples: 22

Theory triples

• Social categorisation influences Social groups
• Social categorisation influences Self-reference
• Value connotations influences Social comparisons
• Social comparisons positively influences Self-reference
• Social identity negatively influences Group membership / social mobility
• Social identity influences Inter-group differentiation
• Self-esteem / self-concept influences the 'Social identity' to 'Inter-group differentiation' Influences relationship
• Inter-group differentiation influences Value connotations
• Internalised group membership influences Inter-group differentiation
• Social situation influences Inter-group differentiation
• Out-group comparability influences Inter-group differentiation
• Social competition influences Inter-group differentiation
• Value connotations influences Self-esteem / self-concept
• Social identity negatively influences Social competition
• Social identity influences Value connotations
• Social identity influences Out-groups
• In-groups type of Social groups
• Out-groups type of Social groups
• Social groups influences (*) Social identity
• Self-reference influences (*) Social identity
• Value connotations part of Out-groups
• Value connotations part of In-groups

Theory constructs and annotations

• Social categorisation The process of using cognitive tools that serve to provide order and classification to the social environment [ BCIO:050878 (Social categorising) 68 ]
• Social groups A collection of people that perceive themselves to belong to the same social category, who share emotional involvement in this social category and have a shared evaluation of the group and their membership in it [ BCIO:050891 (social group) 68 ]
• Self-reference The process by which social groups provide their members with an identification of themselves in social terms [ BCIO:050866 (Group identity development) 68 ]
• Value connotations
• Social comparisons Process in which evaluation of one's own group is determined with reference to specific other groups through social comparisons in terms of value-laden attributes and characteristics [ BCIO:006118 (Social comparison process) 68 ]
• Social identity Those aspects of an individual's self-image that derive from the social categories to which he/she perceives him/herself as belonging; given by social groups to their members, based upon comparisons against members of other groups [ ADDICTO:00010 87 (Social identity) 68 ]
• Group membership / social mobility
• Inter-group differentiation Process in which pressures to evaluate one's own group positively through in-group/out-group comparisons lead social groups to attempt to differentiate themselves from each other [ BCIO:006118 (Social comparison process) 68 ]
• Self-esteem / self-concept The degree to which the qualities and characteristics contained in one's self-concept are perceived to be positive [ BCIO:006035 (Evaluation of self) 68 69 34 33 ]
• Internalised group membership
• Social situation
• Out-group comparability [ BCIO:006118 (Social comparison process) 68 ]
• Social competition
• Out-groups Groups to which one does not belong [ BCIO:050888 (Out-group) 68 ]
• In-groups Any group to which one belongs or with which one identifies [ BCIO:006001 (Social environmental system) 68 , ADDICTO:0001087 (Social identity) 68 62 13 10 14 69 72 33 60 28 80 41 64 4 65 77 3 57 ]

Theory illustration

Theory Reference

• Tajfel, H. & Turner, J. (1986). The Social Identity Theory of Intergroup Behaviour. In S. Worchel & W. G. Austin (Eds.), Psychology of Intergroup Relations (2nd ed., pp. 7-24). Chicago: Nelson-Hall