Social identity theory and the components of self concept are psychological topics that aid individuals in understanding their identity. Social identity is an individual’s perception of who they are based on group membership. The social identity theory is Henri Tajfel’s theory of 1979. According to Tajfel, examples of these groups are social class, family, workplace, and football team. The groups are an essential source of self-esteem and pride. Moreover, they give individuals a certain sense of belonging in the social environment. Tajfel also suggests that stereotyping is a normal cognitive process, and people tend to group things based on their similarities or differences. As a result, this may lead to prejudiced views resulting in conflicts and racism. This paper also examines conflict resolution strategies.
THE COMPONENTS OF SELF CONCEPT IN PSYCHOLOGY
Self concept refers to our knowledge of who we are while incorporating our thoughts physically, socially and emotionally. Additionally, it includes our understanding of our behaviours, capabilities and individual characteristics. The social identity theory classifies self-concept into personal identity and social identity. Its development usually starts in early childhood and continues throughout an individual’s lifespan. However, the process is more dominant between early childhood and adolescence stage. Additionally, throughout these stages, individuals discover the unique traits that differentiate them from others. The components of self-concept are self-image, self-esteem and ideal self. There are various similarities and differences between the three elements. According to Carl Rogers, integration of the components enables self-actualization.
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UNDERSTANDING CONFLICT RESOLUTION STRATEGIES
According to the social identity theory, conflicts arise when beliefs values held by a group or individuals differ from those of others. The theory also states that in-group members seek to find negative elements of out-group members to enhance their self-image. As a result, this arises conflicts through feelings of superiority by a particular group. Conflict resolution refers to the process geared towards developing a mutual agreement between conflicting parties. Psychology suggests the following conflict resolution strategies. One is asking for a third party intervention, for example, an arbitrator or a judge. Secondly, the parties may decide to reach a unilateral decision by avoiding, yielding or forcing the other party to accept the terms of resolution. Another strategy is whereby both parties engage in joint decision making.
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