Social Identity and Social Emotions: Toward New Conceptualizations of Prejudice

Abstract

This chapter discusses social identity and social emotions. Specific stereotypic beliefs may be positive or negative in evaluative tone, and may be thought to characterize virtually all members of the group or just a few of them. This definition of stereotype is widely accepted. Stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination—ranging from economic exploitation of outgroup members through genocide—have been among the central historical themes of the 20th century. Social psychologists have been at the forefront among social scientists attempting to understand the nature and sources of intergroup conflicts. The chapter also discusses some of the problems in the traditional conceptualization and some of the theoretical strengths and novel hypotheses implicit in the new one. It describes some directions for research that could provide further empirical support for this new viewpoint on prejudice and related phenomena.