Social Identity Complexity: Impact on Stereotypes Essay (Critical Writing)

Introduction

The complexity of social identity manifests in how people perceive many of their groups as different from each other. It is no secret that everyone strives to be a member of various companies to one degree or another. Additionally, in this case, the most remarkable element is that such a process includes both favorable and unfavorable aspects. At least membership in a particular society gives individuals a sense of security and forms a positive identity. However, at the same time, each group member has a number of obligations. Moreover, some parties can provoke the formation of a negative individuality. As a rule, people draw conclusions about the behavior of other members of their group under the influence of their complex social identity (Roccas et al., 2021). Social identity complexity is one of the complicated, contradictory, and ambiguous phenomena in the modern world, which for the most part, excludes stereotypes in the working atmosphere.

Social Identity Complexity

Description of the Term

Social identity complexity is a phenomenon in which people tend to imagine, think and assume about the subjective representation of contacts and relationships among their numerous group membership. Often, the concept illustrates the type and form of the expected coincidence between those groups with which a person is directly connected (Roccas et al., 2021). In some cases, an individual may guess and assume that membership in several companies is not an overlapping or convergent phenomenon. Accordingly, the essence, structure, and content of identity, self-reflection, and self-understanding become more complex, thorough, and comprehensive. In brief, a complex social identity can be observed in a person who develops knowledge based on their original and not always reliable ideas about social groups, societies, nations, and the preferences of some individuals.

Evaluating

The designated concept has several significant and unique characteristics that make it possible to distinguish the concept from “analogues.” Thus, for instance, the complexity of social identity provides a new approach to understanding and understanding the picture of the situation within the framework of committing a particular act by a member of the group (Costabile & Austin, 2018). As practice shows, the paradigm of social relations causes the positivity of interpersonal relations, mediates the influence of diversity, and reduces the proportion of intra-group bias, prejudices, and false verdicts (Roccas et al., 2021). At the very least, the complexity of identity, to a greater extent, should be viewed from a more positive side since this aspect challenges social perception and interaction. With a higher degree of probability, a member of the group will be able to form inclusive beneficial attributions in themself, contributing to the perception of the surrounding world not from the point of view of “I” but as “we” or “us.”

The Influence of Social Identity Complexity on Stereotypes

As a rule, a person’s ideas about their complex social identity, as a type of transformation of more subjective opinions, affect tolerance to uncertainty and attitude to the diversity of the social environment. The experience of staying and realizing the complicatedness of the social surroundings and one’s membership in several groups at the same time forms a positive, humane and tolerant attitude towards people’s diversity. In general, the phenomenon excludes the manifestation of bias in the workplace due to well-coordinated work, emotional attachment, and a positive climate.

In order to support this knowledge and assumptions with actual data, the following critical concepts from scholarly references should be addressed. For example, from the point of view of social identity theory, members of their group will stereotype “outsiders” rather than “their” group members (Ferrucci & Tandoc, 2018). By definition, any working collective should be called a group, and all its members are at least united because they work for the benefit of the same goals. Moreover, studies show a deterioration in activities’ effectiveness, productivity, and efficiency due to “stigmatization” (English & Kruger, 2020). Nevertheless, stereotyping can manifest itself through social identity complexity in sporadic cases. For example, this phenomenon may entail such a problem as social distancing. Accordingly, employees organize their work processes in such a way as to isolate themselves from “undesirable personalities” and reduce contact with them due to certain omissions.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it should be emphasized that the complexity of social identity is one of the unusual and unique phenomena in modern times. Often a complex social identity is considered as a conscious belonging of a person to different groups, provided that their values are simultaneously differentiated (understanding differences) and integrated. It is known that this form of identity is the basis or a factor of tolerance to uncertainty and a positive attitude to social diversity in the workplace. At least, this fact is indicated by a particular theory developed within the framework of this concept. Indeed, there are isolated cases when this aspect forms stereotyping and bias. As a rule, the level of complexity can be influenced by social experience, values (including cultural ones), individual differences in preference for more complex information, and situational factors.

References

Costabile, K. A., & Austin, A. B. (2018). A riot on campus: The effects of social identity complexity on emotions and reparative attitudes after ingroup‐perpetrated violence. Aggressive Behavior, 44(1), pp. 50-59.

English, J. A., & Kruger, A. C. (2020). I am not only a student-athlete: Investigating social identity complexity as a stereotype threat mitigation strategy to reduce barriers. Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics, pp. 29-55. Web.

Ferrucci, P., & Tandoc, E. C. (2018). The spiral of stereotyping: Social identity theory and NFL quarterbacks. Howard Journal of Communications, 29(2), pp. 107-125.

Roccas, S., Amit, A., Oppenheim-Weller, S., Hazan, O., & Sagiv, L. (2021). Inclusive and exclusive beneficiary attributions: The role of social identity complexity in interpretations of and punishment for dissent. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, pp. 1-19.