Group Belongingness and Intra- and Inter-Group Processes in Children
Group Belongingness and Intra- and Inter-Group Processes in Children Author Ojala, Kristofer P Published 2008 Thesis Type Thesis (PhD Doctorate) School School of Psychology DOI https://doi.org/10.25904/1912/1717 Copyright Statement The author owns the copyright in this thesis, unless stated otherwise. Downloaded from http://hdl.handle.net/10072/366539 Griffith Research Online https://research-repository.griffith.edu.au Group Belongingness i Group Belongingness and Intra- and Inter-Group Processes in Children Kristofer P. Ojala B.Psych (Hons) School of Psychology Griffith School of Health Griffith University Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology August, 2007 Group Belongingness ii ABSTRACT Why do children engage in group behaviour and, more specifically, what motivates them to express in-group bias and out-group discrimination? Central to social identity theory (SIT; Tajfel & Turner, 1979) and its elaboration self-categorisation theory (SCT; Turner, Hogg, Oakes, Reicher, & Wetherell, 1987), is the view that group attitudes are critically dependent on inter-group comparison and the positive distinctiveness of the in-group. However, whereas this approach has been influential with adults, there has been mixed support in relation to children. The present research program explored the possibility that children, especially in early to mid childhood, are much more simply focused on group belonging, acceptance, and maintenance of group membership. According to this approach, children would initially be more concerned about securing a position within the group, conforming to in-group norms, and maintaining their group membership, than focusing on inter-group comparisons and positive distinctiveness. Study 1 consisted of an experimental simulation which sought to explore the impact of children’s self-presentational concerns on their motivation to be accepted by a group.
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