Identify what you found to be the 2-4 most important points made by the reading, and provide a brief discussion of the reading:

Social identity has been defined as "those aspects of an individual's self image that derive from the social categories to which he perceives himself as belonging" (Tajfel and Turner, 1986). The empirical support for social identity theory is based on research employing the minimal groups paradigm (Tajfel, 1970). This involves dividing subjects into two groups based on some trivial characteristic, such as under-estimators and over-estimators jellybeans in a jar. The researcher informs the participant that he or she is a member of one of the two groups, and then allows the participant to divide points between a member of the ingroup and a member of the outgroup. In the minimal groups paradigm, it is unnecessary for the participant to be able to identify ingroup members, just that there are others in the group. The consistent result is that participant will assign more points to the member of his or her ingroup than the member of the outgroup.

Social identity theorists explain these results in terms of classic social identity theory (Tajfel and Turner, 1986). Individuals actively attempt to sustain or improve their self esteem and at the same time, strive for a favorable self-concept. Social groups and their membership are associated with either positive or negative values. These values are not static, and can and do often change over time. For example, one can belong to a fraternity with a great reputation and the value of this membership would be largely positive. However, if a member of this fraternity commits a terrible crime, the value associated with membership in this group will likely decrease. Accordingly, one's social identity may be positive or negative depending on the values associated with the groups that combine to form an individual's social identity.

Finally, the appraisal of one's own group is determined by comparing it to specific, relevant, outgroups through a process of social comparison.

Groups are compared to one another in relation to certain traits, activities, and other criteria which determine the overall prestige of the group. For example, in the case of the under/over estimators, if one's ingroup is under estimators, then the relevant comparison group is the over estimators. In addition, the unde restimator has a chance to make his or her group positively distinct from the outgroup by assigning one's ingroup member more points.

Turner (1999) writes "One important factor affecting a person's readiness to use a social category for self-definition in specific situations is the extent of their identification with the group, the degree to which it is central, valued, and ego- involving". If group identification level is high, one will be much more likely to use that group when defining oneself. The SIDE model predicts that a salient group identity is one of the factors that lead to increased norm conformity under conditions of anonymity.