My Identity Me versus We

Elements of Individual Identity Personality identity –Part of the self-concept that an individual believes is unique to the self –Reflected in personality, attitudes, opinions

Elements of Individual Identity Social identity –Part of individual’s self-concept that is based on membership in specific groups –Accepted as a description of oneself –Shared with others who have or are believed to have some characteristics in common

Elements of Social Identity Category or membership group ascribed to an individual –Ascribed to an individual ethnicity, sex, or achieved doctor, lawyer, Republican, UTA student, Management major Belief that that one shares characteristics with members of that group –Physical characteristics, behavioral characteristics, attitudes, opinions, common fate

Elements of Social Identity Elements that influences the social identity: how we evaluate our categorical membership (affectively feel) –Our fit with other category members –Non-category members’ perceptions of the value of category membership –The importance we attach to that category of membership to our overall self-concept

Strength of Social Identity Strength of an individual’s social identity with a group (social identification) –Glue that holds the group together –Extent that a person sees himself or herself as representative of that particular group

Strength of Social Identity Positively influences: –Intra-group cohesion –Cooperation, helping behavior, and positive evaluation of the team Biases individual judgments –Extent to which we internalize and follow group norms, values, attitudes, and opinions expressed by the group –Loyalty, support, and commitment to groups/organizations

Strength of Social Identity Increases due to Team Factors: –Distinctiveness of the group’s values and practices in relationship to comparable groups Group provides a unique identity –Prestige of the group People prefer to identify with groups that will enhance their self-esteem (high status-winners, successful) –Awareness of out-groups reinforces awareness of in-group Groups in competition with each other

Increases due to factors associated with Team Members: –Similarity –Shared goals –Common threat –Common history –Proximity –Frequent interaction

Increases due to Organizational Factors Symbolic manipulations –Symbols, logos, jargon Rituals and ceremonies –Marking transitions and rites of passage from probationary to full membership Initiation procedures

Social Identity and Leadership Who is most likely to be accepted as leader and most successful in mobilizing followers? –Leaders who most clearly represent ways in which the group is different from other groups –Leaders who present themselves as clear representatives of the positive social identity of the group

Social Identity Approach Important to understand: –When individuals see themselves either as separate individuals or as part of a collective –When workers sacrifice (short-term) individual interests (e.g., by working overtime) in order to achieve (more long-term) collective outcomes (e.g., attracting new business or trying to sell a new product)

From Me to We Social identity explains when the self shifts from being individual (“Me”) to collective (“We”) –The “Me”: Individual motivation where team members work collectively based on interdependence between personal and collective outcomes (achieve group outcome to achieve a valued individual outcome) –The “We”: Where collective goals and expected group outcomes motivate individuals