ABSTRACT
Social identity theory is often viewed primarily as a theory of large-scale intercategory behavior that has only passing relevance for intragroup phenomena, particularly processes that occur in small interactive groups. My aim in this chapter is to try to dispel this view. I want to show how social identity theory, particularly its recent extension and development as self-categorization theory, potentially has a great deal to say regarding the small group. But I also want to highlight the way in which characteristics of small groups may pose challenges for these theories.
