Selfkategorizáció

Selfkategorizáció, also known as self-categorization theory, is a social psychology theory developed by John Turner and his colleagues. It explains how individuals perceive themselves and others in terms of social groups. The core idea is that people categorize themselves and others into social groups, which influences their behavior, attitudes, and perceptions. This process is not merely about assigning labels but involves a fundamental cognitive shift where individuals adopt the characteristics and norms associated with a particular group.

The theory posits that when individuals identify with a group, they experience depersonalization, meaning they see themselves less as unique individuals and more as interchangeable representatives of that group. This self-stereotyping leads to increased similarity perception within the ingroup and enhanced distinction between the ingroup and outgroups. Selfkategorizáció is a dynamic process, meaning individuals can belong to multiple groups, and the salience of a particular group identity can shift depending on the context.

This social categorization serves several functions. It simplifies the social world by reducing cognitive complexity, allowing for quicker processing of social information. It also provides a sense of belonging and identity, which are fundamental human needs. Furthermore, it can motivate collective action by fostering ingroup solidarity and promoting favorable comparisons with outgroups. Selfkategorizáció has been applied to understand phenomena such as intergroup conflict, prejudice, discrimination, and social influence.