Intergroup Relations From a
Multicultural Perspective
– Lecture 3: Group Membership –
Content
Need to Belong ........................................................................................................................... 2
Violation of the need to belong → Ostracism ............................................................................ 2
Theories of Belongingness ......................................................................................................... 3
Self-categorization Theory ..................................................................................................... 3
Superordinate – Human ...................................................................................................... 3
Intermediate – Group ......................................................................................................... 3
Subordinate – Individual .................................................................................................... 3
Self-categorization: How do I determine in which category I place myself in? ................ 3
How to Solve Intergroup Problems? .................................................................................. 5
Social Identity Theory ............................................................................................................ 6
Minimal Group Paradigm................................................................................................... 6
Three Phases of Social Identity Theory ............................................................................. 6
Solving problems of individuals with the group ................................................................ 8
Optimal Distinctiveness ......................................................................................................... 9
, Intergroup Relations Lecture 3: Group Membership
Need to Belong
Ask for self-attitudes: “I am …” → Group memberships
Evolutionary need to belong
- Social system is the product of the evolutionary process
- During the evolution, ‘group characteristics’ could reproduce more
- Evolutionary advantage through cooperation (help one another, sacrifice oneself for
the common good) → win against most other tribes
Violation of the need to belong → Ostracism
Ostracism is being excluded from a group (= social exclusion = rejection)
➔ Cyberball in experiments
➔ Threatens need to belong, need for self-esteem, need for control, need for meaning
➔ Negative emotions: sadness, anger, pain
2
Multicultural Perspective
– Lecture 3: Group Membership –
Content
Need to Belong ........................................................................................................................... 2
Violation of the need to belong → Ostracism ............................................................................ 2
Theories of Belongingness ......................................................................................................... 3
Self-categorization Theory ..................................................................................................... 3
Superordinate – Human ...................................................................................................... 3
Intermediate – Group ......................................................................................................... 3
Subordinate – Individual .................................................................................................... 3
Self-categorization: How do I determine in which category I place myself in? ................ 3
How to Solve Intergroup Problems? .................................................................................. 5
Social Identity Theory ............................................................................................................ 6
Minimal Group Paradigm................................................................................................... 6
Three Phases of Social Identity Theory ............................................................................. 6
Solving problems of individuals with the group ................................................................ 8
Optimal Distinctiveness ......................................................................................................... 9
, Intergroup Relations Lecture 3: Group Membership
Need to Belong
Ask for self-attitudes: “I am …” → Group memberships
Evolutionary need to belong
- Social system is the product of the evolutionary process
- During the evolution, ‘group characteristics’ could reproduce more
- Evolutionary advantage through cooperation (help one another, sacrifice oneself for
the common good) → win against most other tribes
Violation of the need to belong → Ostracism
Ostracism is being excluded from a group (= social exclusion = rejection)
➔ Cyberball in experiments
➔ Threatens need to belong, need for self-esteem, need for control, need for meaning
➔ Negative emotions: sadness, anger, pain
2
