Social identity: a concept, signs of a social group, self-identification

Social identity is a concept that every psychologist faces. In a variety of scientific works this term is encountered. In this article, we will try to understand what is social identity, what are its types and characteristics. You will also learn how it affects a person's personality.

Identification and self-identification

The concepts of identity and identification are particularly important to distinguish when studying intergroup relations. They are close in meaning, but they differ substantially as scientific terms. Identification in the general sense is the assimilation of something. In the humanities and social sciences, in particular in psychology, different types of identification are singled out. For example, it is often defined as the establishment of the identity of an unknown material object to an object already known on the basis of the coincidence of certain significant features. There is also such a thing as personal identification, or self-identification. This is the attitude of the person to himself.

Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, first introduced the concept of identification. However, it was in social psychology that it became the most widespread. Freud originally considered identification as an unconscious process of imitation. He believed that this is one of the ways of psychological protection of the individual. In social psychology, it is considered that identification is an important condition for the socialization and assimilation of patterns and patterns of behavior in society by a person (especially children). As a result of socialization, the individual takes on his social roles. He realizes that he belongs to a certain group (age, professional, religious, political, racial, ethnic), the norms of which need to be followed.

The concept of identity

Identification in modern terminology is a phenomenon that we observe from the outside. We can state in this case the presence of a certain process, determine its result. There is also such a thing as identity. It refers to the state of the inner world of the individual. This subjective reference to a particular social group (class, type, form). So, identity in the most general form is the identification of a person with others.

Personality System by Henry Taejfel

Henry Taejfel, an English psychologist, is the creator of the theory of social identity. He made a significant contribution to the study of the psychology of relations between groups. In accordance with the theory of Henry Taejfel, one can imagine the "I-concept" of personality in the form of a system that regulates all kinds of social behavior. This system includes two subsystems. The first of these is personal identity. It is responsible for how the personality is self-determined, is a set of individual intellectual, physical, moral-moral and other characteristics of a person. The second subsystem is a group identity. She is responsible for referring the individual to professional, ethnic and other groups. The transition in the human consciousness from personal to group identity corresponds to the transition from various forms of interpersonal social relations to intergroup relations, and vice versa.

Works Taejfela have received wide distribution among scientists. In addition, in social psychology, they gave rise to a discussion about the relationship between personal and social identity. This discussion continues to this day.

Identity personal and social

Self-identification is a concept that in the traditional sense is a set of individual characteristics that distinguish a particular person from other people. As for the identity of the social, it is often viewed as the result of the individual's realization of his belonging to various social groups. In the process of this awareness, a person acquires the characteristics inherent in these groups. It should be noted that, at both the empirical and the practical levels, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between such concepts as personal and social identity. Researchers often have to think about what they are dealing with.

Types of social identity

The term "identity" in modern humanitarian and social sciences is used very widely. It should be understood that this is not a property that is inherent in the individual. Identity is a person's attitude to himself in the world, emerging and developing over time in terms of interaction with people. A number of psychologists believe that it is inherent only to individual subjects. They believe that identity can be attributed to groups only in a metaphorical sense.

Scientists talk about ethnic, professional, political, regional, age, gender identity, etc. Types can vary, because the meaning of each of them varies in the structure of the individual . It depends on time and situational factors, such as the place of residence of a person, the type of his activity, age, education, worldview, etc.

Ethnic identity

It can be activated or extinguished as a result of a change in the attitude of a person to the national community to which he belongs. Most often, ethnic identity is formed not as a result of "attribution" of other people a certain national trait (although this happens). It usually appears in the process of awareness, individual self-determination. For example, if the surname of a person has obvious ethnic signs, this does not mean his identity. This is not enough for self-determination of an individual as a representative of a certain nationality, although this also occurs in a society characterized by obvious ethnic contradictions.

Gender Identity

It is created in early childhood in the course of human biological development. Apparently, it can be determined not only by biological factors, but also by social factors. For example, unconventional sexual orientation (sexual identity) is a very difficult phenomenon to understand, as in the society today there is an active struggle to define the norms and conditions of gender identity. This problem can not be solved within the framework of social psychology. It requires a systematic analysis involving the opinions of a large number of specialists - culturologists, biologists, psychiatrists, lawyers, etc. The individual and the group are currently forced to compromise, as the unconventional social identity of a person gives discomfort to many members of society.

Identity and personal development

The personality is largely formed under the influence of society. As studies show, age, ethnicity, gender identity are the central components of the overall social identity. The problems of the age, ethnic or gender component can greatly impede the existence and normal development of the individual. For example, they can destroy physical and mental health, with all the ensuing consequences.

Professional Identity

Another important task facing the individual at a certain stage is the formation of the professional identity. Often, scientists talk about professional self-determination. This process does not end in adolescence after choosing a profession or getting an education. A person is very often forced to self-determine in his activities throughout his life. It depends not only on the individual himself, but also on external circumstances. Examples include economic crises. Some professions are unnecessary as a result of these crises, while others become more in demand. Man has to adapt to the changed labor market.

Social groups as subjects and objects of social identification

Social identity is a concept that in modern social psychology is central to understanding the specifics of intergroup relations. After all, this is the key moment that unites the personality and the group to which it belongs. It should be noted that social groups of society - the phenomenon is extremely heterogeneous. Therefore, it is important to determine what we mean by this term.

These associations of individuals are distinguished by a variety of characteristics and parameters, despite the fact that there are common signs of a social group. Therefore, it would be logical to assume that the process of social identification in its specificity is determined by the properties of the groups to which the given person belongs.

The characteristic features of the social group are as follows:

• A certain way of interaction of its members, which is conditioned by a common cause or interests;
• Awareness of membership in this group, a sense of belonging to it, manifested in the protection of its interests;
• Awareness of the unity of representatives of this association or the perception of all its members as a whole, not only by them, but also by surrounding people.

Group status and social identity

Scientists note that those who belong to high-status social groups tend to think less about group membership than those related to low-status social groups . The fact is that membership in such elite associations of individuals is a certain standard. Other social groups compare their identity with this standard.

Membership in stigmatized, discriminated, low-status groups leads to a negative social identity. Individuals in this case often resort to special strategies. With the help of various means, they achieve a positive social identity of the individual. They either seek to leave this group and enter the more highly evaluated, or to make their group perceived more positively.

As you can see, the formation of social identity is a complex and multifaceted process. Of course, it requires further study.