Social Identity Theory (SIT)

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Social identity theory (SIT), developed in the 1970s by British social psychologists Henri Tajfel and John Turner, suggests our self-identity is based on our group memberships. The theory has two essential parts: personal identity (traits that make us unique) and social identity (who we are is based on our membership in social groups). We categorize ourselves and others into in-groups and out-groups and are motivated to view our group positively to maintain a positive self-image. But discrimination, prejudice, and intergroup conflict can lead to negative social identity. We see ourselves in groups based on age, gender/sexual identity, ethnicity, nationality, occupation, and social class, as well as sports teams, music/art groups, or political parties—influencing how we interact with others. An integrated model of SIT with Albert Bandura’s social cognitive theory (SCT) shows how social identity influences self-efficacy, largely by shaping the sources of efficacy described by Bandura:

• Perceived social support as mediator: By identifying with a social group, we perceive receiving more emotional, informational, or instrumental support from that group. This boosts our self-efficacy. We are more trusting of encouragement and positive feedback (verbal persuasion) as authentic and genuine when given by in-group members. Strong social identity and social support also help buffer stress and anxiety. Feeling a sense of belonging and not being alone reduces negative physical reactions to challenges, which in turn leads to less fear and more confidence (positive interpretation of physiological state).
• Vicarious experience and modeling (SIT reinforces SCT’s concept). We’re more likely to feel able to achieve goals if we perceive ourselves similar to the successful role-models. When feeling a strong connection to a group, we view members’ achievements as relevant/achievable for ourselves—their successes are a powerful source of self-efficacy for us, the observers. Social identity amplifies the impact of observing others. Strong group identification makes in-group members the most effective and believable models, strengthening the “If they can do it, I can” belief.
• Collective Efficacy: Social identity is a crucial predictor of collective efficacy, which is the group’s shared belief in its ability to achieve common goals. A strong social identity motivates group members to work cooperatively, express confidence in the group, and contribute effort toward group aspirations, which enhances the entire group’s sense of efficacy and performance