Group identities serve functions beyond ego enhancement, which vary by group type

Evidence

Other researchers have taken a different line, speculating that not all social identities are primarily driven by esteem enhancement motives. Among the other identity functions that have been suggested are self insight/understanding and ingroup cooperation and cohesion (Aharpour & Brown, 2002; Deaux, Reid, Mizrahi, & Cotting, 1999), social interaction (Deaux et al., 1999), uncertainty reduction and meaning (Hogg, 2000; Vignoles, Chryssochoou, & Breakwell, 2002), and continuity (Vignoles et al., 2002). Aharpour and Brown (2002) found that different groups (e.g. trade unionists, football fans, students) differentially privileged some of these identity functions and, moreover, the functions themselves were correlated differently with both identification and ingroup bias in the different groups. — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 443

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to identity-function theories and to Allport’s own claim about identity ‘content’ shaping expression — echo of group-identity work in my existing psychology sources.