The Ingroup as Part of the Self

T heories on intergroup behavior are inevitably theories on the self. Linking intergroup behavior to group members' self-concept is an integral part of influential theories like Social Identity Theory (Tajfel & Turner, 1979; 1986), Self-Categorization Theory (Turner, Hogg, Oakes, Reicher, & Wetherell, 1987) and Optimal Distinctiveness Theory (Brewer, 1991, 1993). A core message of these theories is that the self can be conceptualized at different levels of abstraction, and that each of these levels is associated with certain patterns in social judgments and behavior. A common differentiation is that the self can be conceptualized at the personal level—I versus others—and at the group level—us versus them.