Social Identity Theory and Self‐Categorization Theory

Abstract

Social identity theory and self‐categorization theory suggest that people categorize themselves as belonging to certain groups such as nationality, gender, or even sports teams. Social identity theory focuses on how group memberships guide intergroup behavior and influence an individual's self‐concept. Closely tied to self‐categorization is an individual's evaluation of the in‐group. To reach positive evaluations of one's own in‐group, people engage in processes of social comparison. They derogate the out‐group with the aim of increasing their own self‐esteem. Self‐categorization theory proposes that, depending on salience in a situation, either personal identity and interpersonal behavior, social identity and intergroup behavior, or dynamic interplay prevails. These theories have widely been used to explain media use and media effects on people. For example, it has been shown that media users prefer media featuring positively portrayed protagonists of their own in‐group.

The Effects of Supervisor’s Organizational Embodiment and Organizational Identification on the LMX-Creativity Relationship

“…"Sense-giving" through cognitive evaluation (Ashforth et al, 2008) of LMX cues like attention, support, trust, and consideration of supervisor ignites "Sense-making" and "sense-breaking" which generates a feeling of oneness. Perception of attachment with organization leads to felt obligations and sense of reciprocation (Trepte & Loy, 2017). The sense of felt obligations and reciprocation increases follower's focus and attention given to the work challenges.…”

“…According to SIT, individuals evaluate these cues from increased exchange relationships with from cognitive perspective. When individuals evaluate these informational cues through cognitive processing, they categorize themselves as a member of the group or an organization relative to other group or organizational members (Trepte & Loy, 2017). These classifications and categorizations result from cognitive evaluation and appraisals based on affiliation and attachment.…”

“…SIT relates individual's self-concept about an organization to a collective role in the organization. Identification includes a feeling of solidarity and belongingness, attraction, and loyalty with an organization, alignment, and acceptance of shared goals (Trepte & Loy, 2017). Individuals who have a sense of favorable position in a group or organization identify themselves with the group or organization.…”

“…This perception lies in the informational cues evaluated through human cognitions. The cognitive processing of these informational cues plays a vital role in a follower's organizational identification (Trepte & Loy, 2017), which further leads to the creativity of the follower (Mumford, Medeiros, & Partlow, 2012).…”

Mad and/or bad? Jurors' attitudes towards women and men who plead insanity

“…For instance, a person who identifies as a woman may perceive other women as part of her gender in-group and men as part of her gender out-group. Part of a person's self-esteem comes from the social groups (e.g., gender) they identify with (see Trepte & Loy, 2017). People are motivated to feel positively about their in-group because a positive sense of the social group is integral to the self-esteem of the individual (i.e., collective self-esteem; see Crocker & Luhtanen, 1990;Luhtanen & Crocker, 1992).…”