Social identity
categorization, cognition, and affect
pp. 183-205
in: Thomas Blake (ed), The Palgrave handbook of affect studies and textual criticism, Berlin, Springer, 2017Abstract
One important type of social identity is "categorial" identity, which establishes in-groups and out-groups. Such categorization is complex, involving inclusion criteria, identification criteria, and other components. We have multiple categorial identities and hierarchize them by reference to such properties as salience and durability. Social identity categorization is continuous with other processes of categorization, with consequences for information processing and motivation or emotion. However, in the case of categorial identification, the information is often mistaken, and the motivational consequences are often destructive. Our information processing of social identity categories is involved with cognitive modeling (including a limited number of prominent models) and emplotment (including a limited number of prominent narrative structures). Emotionally, categorial identity affects one's interpersonal or empathic stance toward in-group and out-group members.