Self and Social Identity

Abstract

In this chapter, we examine the self and identity by considering the different conditions under which these are affected by the groups to which people belong. From a social identity perspective we argue that group commitment, on the one hand, and features of the social context, on the other hand, are crucial determinants of central identity concerns. We develop a taxonomy of situations to reflect the different concerns and motives that come into play as a result of threats to personal and group identity and degree of commitment to the group. We specify for each cell in this taxonomy how these issues of self and social identity impinge upon a broad variety of responses at the perceptual, affective, and behavioral level.

Racial-ethnic self-schemas: Multidimensional identity-based motivation

“…Racial-ethnic identity content has been a particular focus of social-identity research (Brewer, 1991;Cross, 1991;Ellemers, Spears, & Doosje, 2002;Frable, 1997;Verkuyten, 2005). Perhaps because the social identity perspective foregrounds groups and inter-group relations, theorists influenced by the social identity framework describe content of racial-ethnic identity in terms of connection to in-group and connection between in-group and broader society (e.g., Brewer, 2007;Verkuyten, 2005).…”

Acculturation and identity

“…Some researchers (e.g., Ellemers, Spears, & Doosje, 2002) try to avoid this confusion by substituting the term "identification" with the term "commitment" and reserving the term "social identity" to refer only to the nature or content of a particular identity. This conceptual distinction may make it easier to understand that people may identify strongly with ( i.e., feel strongly committed to) groups that confer a negative identity upon them.…”

“…The social context provides feedback about both of these threats: information on the social position of one's group in relation to other groups and on factors related to the permeability of group boundaries, thus providing feedback on the probability of maintaining the distinctiveness of the group in the future (Ellemers et al, 2002). For non-visible minorities, the question of future vitality is intimately connected with collective survival, i.e., the threat of assimilation and the total loss of group distinctiveness.…”

Identidade e pluralismo: identidade religiosa em adeptos brasileiros de novas religiões japonesas

“…Essa é uma teoria voltada para a análise das relações, conflituosas ou não, entre os grupos. A identidade resulta da tomada de consciência de se pertencer a um grupo e de não A discussão da identidade se desdobra, na Psicologia, em duas direções: a da identidade pessoal e a da identidade social ou grupal (Cassidy & Trew, 1998;Frable, 1997;Ellemers, Spears & Doosje, 2002). A identidade grupal conhece atualmente um desenvolvimento notável: a fértil qualificação hodierna das identidades políticas, profissionais, religiosas, étnicas, de gênero e outras, aponta para a dimensão psicossocial da identidade, isto é, para a pertença da pessoa a um grupo político, profissional, religioso ou outro.…”