ABSTRACT
Each person has an individual way of describing him or herself and his or her interactions with the various groups he or she connects with. We want others to think of us as unique in terms of our own views, values, and positions. Although it is important for us to be considered as having a distinctive personality, it is also vital for us to belong to particular social groups.1 This connection to groups-social identity-is an essential part of how we see ourselves and how we perceive society as a whole. Our social identity is based on the belief that, as individuals, we belong to a particular group; we share common views, values, and feelings with other group members; and we differ significantly from members of other social groups. This social group we belong to provides us with a particular social status, in addition to protection and security. Group membership also provides us with a clear set of shared ideas and values; it is where we obtain positive self-esteem and develop particular visions and understandings of other ethnic, religious, political, racial, or national groups.
