Theories in Social Psychology, 2nd Edition

11 Self-Categorization and Social Identification: Making Sense of Us and Them

Nils Karl Reimer, Katharina Schmid, Miles Hewstone, and Ananthi Al Ramiah

Social identity processes are central to social psychological theory and research. Social identity plays an important role in many individual and social phenomena, including health and well-being (e.g., C. Haslam et al., 2018), educational achievement (e.g., Steele et al., 2002), and collective action and social change (e.g., Van Zomeren et al., 2008).

In this chapter, we provide an overview of social psychological theories on social identity, including social identity theory (Tajfel, 1978; Tajfel & Turner, 1979) and self-categorization theory (Turner et al., 1987). Prior to Tajfel’s and Turner’s seminal writings, two types of theory dominated explanations of intergroup relations and intergroup conflict. First, so-called “prejudice” accounts proposed that intergroup conflict results from individual-level variation in a prejudiced personality (Son Hing & Zanna, 2010). Second, realistic group conflict theory (Campbell, 1965; Sherif, 1966) contended that negative intergroup relations stem from conflicting group goals and competition over resources or power (see Jackson, 1993, for a review). Compared to these explanations, social identity theory and self-categorization theory offered a unique and refined account of intergroup relations that remains important to this day. This chapter is dedicated to these interrelated approaches ...