Social identity derives its value from comparisons against out-groups

Evidence

Individuals strive to maintain or enhance their self-esteem: they strive for a positive self-concept. 2. Social groups or categories and the membership of them are associated with positive or negative value connotations. Hence, social identity may be positive or negative according to the evaluations (which tend to be socially consensual, either within or across groups) of those groups that contribute to an individual’s social identity. 3. The evaluation of one’s own group is deter-mined with reference to specific other groups through social comparisons in terms of value-laden attributes and characteristics. Positively discrepant comparisons between in-group and out-group produce high prestige; negatively discrepant comparisons between in-group and outgroup result in low prestige. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2718

Categorization

• DEFINE: Lays out Tajfel’s core premises for social identity theory.
• XREF: Foundation for the minimal group paradigm and later social identity/SIT work on ingroup bias. — connects to: Social reproduction sustains individuals through group identity, not just purposive-rational adaptation — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 2428; Civic virtue rests on group identification and satisfying identities, not just self-discipline; Religious group solidarity organizes others into outgroups by identity — Deborah L. Hall and David C. Matz and Wendy Wood, Why Don’t We Practice What We Preach? A…, 77 (+9 more)