14 - Negotiating Social Identity

Abstract

The ongoing processes of identity negotiations that form the source of the social identity of an individual form the main area of focus in this chapter. The effects that a change of circumstances have on the daily behavior and reference group of a person are, in particular, presented to the readers. The social identification framework, in which individuals are considered representatives of social categories, is adopted for the study. The discourse starts off with a discussion about the social parameters of identification. The dynamics of social identification have been reviewed closely. The importance of contexts and settings in influencing the choices of a person is also highlighted in the chapter. Two different identity negotiation strategies—identity negation and identity enhancement—are presented, and the importance of striking a proper balance between them is also made apparent. Identity negotiation can result from social stigmatization, and this has been given special importance. The perception of threat acts as a bridge between stigmatization and the selection of an identity negotiation strategy. It is imperative to understand the social norms and contexts that lead to the very circumstances of negotiating stigmatized identity.