The social identity theory, as applied to diversity, explains how individuals, particularly members of minority groups, manage their sense of self-worth and group belonging within diverse social structures. Based on Tajfel's (1981) theory, it suggests that individuals strive to maintain a positive social identity, which is derived from their membership in various groups.
Understanding Social Identity in Diverse Contexts
In diverse environments, group memberships become salient. When an individual belongs to a group that is viewed negatively or holds lower status compared to a dominant group, their social identity may be threatened. The reference highlights how members of minority groups navigate this challenge to achieve or maintain a positive social identity.
According to the perspective presented, members of minority groups typically employ one or a combination of two main strategies to address potential negative social identity stemming from group membership:
How Minority Groups Achieve Positive Social Identity
Minority group members, facing potentially unfavorable social comparisons, may adopt strategies to improve their social standing or the perception of their group.
Strategy 1: Individual Mobility
This strategy involves attempts by an individual to move out of their low-status group, either physically or psychologically, and gain acceptance into a higher-status, mainstream group.
- Concept: Essentially, this is about individual assimilation or disassociation from the minority group.
- Approach: Individuals might downplay their minority identity, adopt behaviors and norms of the mainstream group, or seek opportunities that allow them to be perceived as part of the dominant group.
- Outcome: If successful, the individual achieves a positive social identity by aligning with a more positively regarded group. However, this strategy does not change the status of the original group.
Strategy 2: Social Change
This strategy involves collective efforts by members of the minority group to improve the status or perception of the entire group within society.
- Concept: This is about challenging the existing social hierarchy and working towards a more equitable system where the minority group is valued.
- Approach: Group members collaborate through various means such as activism, protesting, advocating for policy changes, celebrating group identity, or creating positive ingroup distinctiveness.
- Outcome: If successful, this strategy can lead to a shift in intergroup relations and the elevation of the minority group's social status, thereby enhancing the positive social identity of all its members.
Comparing the Strategies
The reference posits that individuals may use a combination of both strategies depending on the perceived permeability of group boundaries and the stability/legitimacy of the status differences.
| Strategy | Focus | Approach | Outcome for Group Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual Mobility | Individual | Assimilation, Leaving the Group | Unchanged |
| Social Change | Collective Action | Challenging Status Quo, Group Elevation | Potentially Improved |
Relevance to Diversity
Applying Social Identity Theory to diversity helps explain intergroup dynamics and individual behavior within diverse settings. It highlights:
- Identity Management: How individuals navigate multiple group memberships and potential conflicts between them.
- Intergroup Relations: Why tension or cooperation might arise between different groups based on social comparisons and status differences.
- Motivation for Action: The underlying psychological drivers (maintaining positive social identity) behind individual mobility or collective action by minority groups seeking equality and recognition.
In essence, the social identity theory, viewed through the lens of diversity as described in the reference, primarily provides a framework for understanding the psychological strategies employed by minority group members to achieve a positive social identity in contexts where their group may face disadvantage or negative stereotypes.
