EXAMINATION OF SOCIAL IDENTITY THEORY (SIT) IN THE CONTEXT OF INTER-GROUP RELATIONS: HOW CAN EXPLANATIONS OF SIT BE APPLIED TO THE RESOLUTION OF INTRACTABLE INTER-GROUP CONFLICTS?

Sayıl, Ekmel (2011) EXAMINATION OF SOCIAL IDENTITY THEORY (SIT) IN THE CONTEXT OF INTER-GROUP RELATIONS: HOW CAN EXPLANATIONS OF SIT BE APPLIED TO THE RESOLUTION OF INTRACTABLE INTER-GROUP CONFLICTS? Other thesis, TED ANKARA COLLEGE FOUNDATION HIGH SCHOOL.

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Abstract

Tajfel’s social identity and Turner’s self categorization theories are complimentary. The aim of this article is try to examine and apply these theoretical explanations to the resolution of inter-group conflicts in different geographical regions all over the world. More specifically, psychological concepts, which are included in these theories, are used to extrapolate a person-centered argument for inter-group conflict’s reduction. According to these theories group membership and social identity fulfill some basic psychological human needs such as affiliation with a group, positive self-esteem, and to compare ourselves with others. To have a social identity is an automatic process since there are many default categories such as ethnicity, gender, and religion and we can categorize ourselves in many of them easily. When we categorize ourselves, we perceive our in-group as valuable and we try to differentiate from out-group by making comparisons. Therefore, this social comparison process initiates discrimination and results in inter-group conflict ultimately. Inter-group conflict can be based on a real inequality or injustice but the main factor is subjective perception of the group and it may not reflect the truth. Discrimination and hostility toward other group has been accelerated in prolonged conflicts. Psychological explanations of social identity and social categorization theories imply some basic psychological processes that motivate individual behavior of a group member. The theories emphasize the importance of motivation for positive self esteem, need for affiliation, subjective perceptions, attribution biases, and automatic inferences in the formation of inter-group relation. Inter-group relations might seem as between the groups. However, if we take the SIT into consideration, the exact source of inter-group competition, discrimination, and conflict is psychological processes of individual. Therefore to make individuals aware of these processes which is the creator of conflictual relations might be a unique contribution of SIT to the resolution of conflicts.

Item Type: Thesis (Other)
Additional Information: Supervisor: Sibel Üntuna IB Notu: B
Uncontrolled Keywords: SOCIAL IDENTITY THEORY, INTER-GROUP RELATIONS, INTER-GROUP CONFLICTS
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Depositing User: Kamil Çömlekçi
Date Deposited: 16 Jun 2011 06:22
Last Modified: 12 Apr 2019 10:51
URI: http://tedprints.tedankara.k12.tr/id/eprint/127

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