Page 100 - Class Portfolio2019

UNIT II
SOCIOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF EDUCATION

For example, people may find it psychologically meaningful to view themselves according to
their race, culture, gender, age, or religion. It has been found that the psychological
membership of social groups and categories is associated with a wide variety of phenomena.

The terminology was made popular by Henri Tajfel and colleagues during his work in

formulating social identity theory.
Social identity theory is described as a theory that predicts certain intergroup behaviours

on the basis of perceived group status differences, the perceived legitimacy and stability of
those status differences, and the perceived ability to move from one group to another.

Associated Phenomena

In-group Favoritism - This refers to the fact that under certain conditions, people will prefer
and have affinity for one’s ingroup over the outgroup, or anyone viewed as outside the
ingroup. This can be expressed in one's evaluation of others, linking, allocation of resources,
and many other ways.

Outgroup derogation - Discrimination between ingroups and outgroups is a matter of
favoritism towards an ingroup and the absence of equivalent favoritism towards an outgroup.

Social influence - People have been shown to be differentially influenced by ingroup
members. That is, under conditions where group categorization is psychologically salient,
people will shift their beliefs in line with ingroup social norms.

Group homogeneity - Categorization of people into social groups increases the perception
that group members are similar to one another.

In evolutionary psychology, ingroup favoritism is seen as an evolved mechanism selected
for the advantages of coalition affiliation.[13] It has been argued that characteristics such as
gender and ethnicity are inflexible or even essential features of such systems.

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