12.) Evaluate social identity theory.
For this question, you'll first need to explain the nature and components of social identity theory (SIT), then EVALUATE by talking about its strengths and weaknesses.
Henri Tajfel - created the SIT, which is basically states that all individuals are striving to improve their self-image based on the perceptions of others through SELF-ESTEEM
People can do this through two major ways:
The second of the two is the core of the SIT, so after you've simplified the SIT, address the following:
After these, you can get to the strengths and weaknesses, but avoid listing; try connecting them together with the two studies above, as well as SLOA principles and other information.
Strengths
Weaknesses
Henri Tajfel - created the SIT, which is basically states that all individuals are striving to improve their self-image based on the perceptions of others through SELF-ESTEEM
People can do this through two major ways:
- Personal achievement
- Joining social groups to gain a sense of belonging
The second of the two is the core of the SIT, so after you've simplified the SIT, address the following:
- The concepts of In-group (the group you are a part of) and Out-group (those people who are outside your group)
- How in- and out-groups lead to discrimination and stereotypes with supporting studies:
- Brown eyes/blue eyes study by Jane Elliot
- Stanford Prison Experiment by Zimbardo 1971 (prisoners vs. wardens) and lack of importance of personality in behavior
After these, you can get to the strengths and weaknesses, but avoid listing; try connecting them together with the two studies above, as well as SLOA principles and other information.
Strengths
- Lots of empirical evidence
- Takes the individual into account
- Explains the reason for commitment/loyalty
- Motivation to have certain actions
- Situational factors affect disposition of an individual
- Reason for boosted self-esteem
- Helps explain automatic formation of groups
- Explains range of social phenomena (ethnocentrism)
- An ETIC and can be studied cross-culturally <-- A great point to remember!!!!
- Biodirectional - environment and disposition and perspective all influence each other
- Explanation of individual differences, ex. someone is more likely to discriminate than others
Weaknesses
- Takes individual into account
- A person takes on the identity of a group
- Prejudice can be reduced with this
- Not modern (1970's)
- Mirror neurons could be a factor - feel how other people feel, simply enhanced by group setting
- Can only study humans for valid results
- DIFFERS BY CULTURE --> you HAVE to expand this