Social identity theory

People change their behavior to fit in with their group

Social identity theory, developed by social psychologists Henri Tajfel and John Turner, explores how people identify with and behave as members of social groups. The theory includes three components: social categorization, social identification, and social comparison.

Social categorization involves grouping people based on characteristics such as race, nationality, religion, and occupation to simplify and organize the social world. For instance, people might see themselves as "students," "engineers," “Jews,” “Minnesotans” or "Americans," with these categories carrying norms, values, and behaviors.

Once individuals categorize themselves into a group, they adopt that group's identity through social identification, aligning their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors with group norms. This provides a sense of belonging and self-esteem. For example, someone who identifies with a sports team takes pride in its successes and feels affected by its failures.

People then compare their in-group with out-groups through social comparison, often favoring the in-group. This in-group favoritism can lead to out-group discrimination, where out-group members are treated less favorably, reinforcing self-esteem and in-group distinctiveness.

Key concepts in social identification theory include in-group favoritism, the tendency to positively evaluate and prefer one's group, and out-group discrimination, involving negative behaviors or attitudes towards out-groups. The motivation to show the in-group is superior to out-groups, enhancing individual self-esteem.

Social identification theory has many applications, explaining why people are prejudiced against outsiders and engage in discriminatory behaviors. It helps in understanding intergroup conflicts.

As it is human nature, we all, to various extents, do these things. Think about how you do and have done this.