Social Identity Theory
Summarise the two different psychological approaches to identity. How has each been used to further our understanding of this concept?
Within the discipline of Psychology there has been much research focused upon the complex issue of Identity. Several approaches have been developed but this essay will discuss two of the more prominent theories - Psychosocial and Social Identity Theory - and explain how these have developed our understanding of the issue.
Erickson was the founder of Psychosocial Theory. He developed the term from the words psychological (mind) and social (external relationships). His theory, developed from field research, clinical studies and personal experiences, argues that identity is influenced by both personal …show more content…
He believed that it is important for our community to see us as the same person over time. However, Erickson doesn’t believe that (once achieved) our ‘core’ identity is fixed; rather the achievement of identity is a continuous, life-long, process affected by our life experiences and the ‘normative crisis’ between individual needs and social expectations, that are common to most people.
Erickson argued that there are 8 developmental stages, from infancy to old age. Each holds a ‘normative crisis’ that needs to be tackled, the outcome of which would influence the achievement of identity.
For Erikson, the most significant of these stages is Adolescence, during which young people have the opportunity to experiment with different responses to social expectations and ‘trying out’ a variety of roles; a period of time he terms ‘psychosocial moratorium’. Some adolescents struggle to commit to adult roles and progress onto the next stage, for them this becomes period of ‘identity crisis’. Failure to reconcile the conflicts of simultaneous role changes delays the achievement of a secure ego identity, a situation that Erickson termed ‘role diffusion’ (as cited in Phoenix, 2007, …show more content…
Larger scale ‘social change’ can occur for groups in society; either by demanding alternative social arrangements (Social competition) or by positive redefinition of a devalued social group to improve the social identity of its members (Social creativity).
Tajfel suggests that identification with the ‘in-group’ often leads to prejudice and discrimination towards non-members. “According to SIT, the drive towards fulfilling social identity is the root of prejudice and discrimination” (Phoenix, 2007, p65)
With SIT we can identify with a variety of groups (e.g, male, Welsh and British), simultaneously. It introduces that we can experience a variety of identities, rather than a ‘core’ identity. I feel this assertion has merit, as it may be possible for people to associate with a particular identity in a variety of different contexts.
SIT theory and the experimental approach reveal the importance of group membership to an individual’s identity. It illustrates that identification with groups can be sub-conscious and that we may take steps, often without awareness, to reinforce boundaries between groups. At both the individual and group level, this serves to reinforce our identity, but may also contribute to profound societal
Within the discipline of Psychology there has been much research focused upon the complex issue of Identity. Several approaches have been developed but this essay will discuss two of the more prominent theories - Psychosocial and Social Identity Theory - and explain how these have developed our understanding of the issue.
Erickson was the founder of Psychosocial Theory. He developed the term from the words psychological (mind) and social (external relationships). His theory, developed from field research, clinical studies and personal experiences, argues that identity is influenced by both personal …show more content…
He believed that it is important for our community to see us as the same person over time. However, Erickson doesn’t believe that (once achieved) our ‘core’ identity is fixed; rather the achievement of identity is a continuous, life-long, process affected by our life experiences and the ‘normative crisis’ between individual needs and social expectations, that are common to most people.
Erickson argued that there are 8 developmental stages, from infancy to old age. Each holds a ‘normative crisis’ that needs to be tackled, the outcome of which would influence the achievement of identity.
For Erikson, the most significant of these stages is Adolescence, during which young people have the opportunity to experiment with different responses to social expectations and ‘trying out’ a variety of roles; a period of time he terms ‘psychosocial moratorium’. Some adolescents struggle to commit to adult roles and progress onto the next stage, for them this becomes period of ‘identity crisis’. Failure to reconcile the conflicts of simultaneous role changes delays the achievement of a secure ego identity, a situation that Erickson termed ‘role diffusion’ (as cited in Phoenix, 2007, …show more content…
Larger scale ‘social change’ can occur for groups in society; either by demanding alternative social arrangements (Social competition) or by positive redefinition of a devalued social group to improve the social identity of its members (Social creativity).
Tajfel suggests that identification with the ‘in-group’ often leads to prejudice and discrimination towards non-members. “According to SIT, the drive towards fulfilling social identity is the root of prejudice and discrimination” (Phoenix, 2007, p65)
With SIT we can identify with a variety of groups (e.g, male, Welsh and British), simultaneously. It introduces that we can experience a variety of identities, rather than a ‘core’ identity. I feel this assertion has merit, as it may be possible for people to associate with a particular identity in a variety of different contexts.
SIT theory and the experimental approach reveal the importance of group membership to an individual’s identity. It illustrates that identification with groups can be sub-conscious and that we may take steps, often without awareness, to reinforce boundaries between groups. At both the individual and group level, this serves to reinforce our identity, but may also contribute to profound societal