People pursue self-worth through favorable evaluations of their groups

Evidence

The basic premise of Social Identity Theory (see also Self-Categorization Theory: Turner et al., 1987) is that people have important collective as well as personal identities. Moreover, with respect to collective identity, people obtain a sense of self-worth from the groups to which they belong, so that self and group identity are linked. Individuals therefore seek to belong to groups that are evaluated more positively than other groups, and will denigrate other groups and limit their opportunities in order to obtain this outcome. — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1495

Categorization

• DEFINE: Core premise of Social Identity Theory: collective identity feeds self-worth, driving outgroup denigration.
• XREF: Connects to Coleman’s social capital work on how group membership confers benefit via identity and networks. — connects to: Lower-status workers maintain self-esteem by claiming superiority in non-material goods. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology: Key Readings, 2179; Mere group membership suffices to trigger self-esteem-linked favoritism. — Anthony G. Greenwald and Mahzarin R. Banaji, Implicit Social Cognition: Attitudes,…, 126; Youth adjust aspirations to match perceived positions of their own social group — Samuel Bowles and Herbert Gintis, Schooling in Capitalist America:…, 1140 (+3 more)