ipl-logo

A Psychological Analysis Of Primordialist Schools

1136 Words5 Pages

The classical method of categorization provided by P. Q. Yang divides ethnical identity theories into three main approaches: the primordialist school, the constructionist school and the instrumentalist school. The first approach received its name because it underlines the role of original factors, such as descent and cultural ties. Primordialist school defines ethnic as assigned identity, something rooted and fixed. Therefore, identity cannot be changed because ethnicity is inherited from predecessors and determined by bloodline. Boundaries between members of different groups are strict and strongly prescribed by biological and cultural origins. The members of the group associate themselves with common biological descent and cultural traditions. …show more content…

On the one hand, aspiration is provided by outside institutions (government, media, schools, etc.) which pushed a person to the particular ethnic group. On the other hand, hostility, discrimination and conflicts helped to consolidate a group of people against adversities and provided ground for group identity. According to the theory, the creation of ethnic identity depended on the larger societies. Hence, one can see that constructionist school focus mainly on historical force and social influence on ethnicity. Despite the constructionist approach better explains possible changes in identity; it does not pay appropriate attention to the economic and political effect on shaping the ethnic …show more content…

Psychology places the individual at the centre of analyses with an emphasis on two main elements: value system and self-esteem. The benefit of psychological perspective is that it investigates the close links and connections between the individual and society. It also provides scientists with dualistic approach to ethnic identity which is expressed in two-level analyses: from the whole ethnic group perspective (group ethnic identity) and from perspective of individual actors (individual ethnic identity) . Both levels are not separate from each other; on the contrary, they tend to co-influence and even coincide. This happens because a person cannot act exclusively as a part of any social group, identity influences the most personal relationships as

Show More
Related

  • Racial Formation Theory

    811 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Racial formation theory has its basis on the assumption that race of an individual is an identity that is socially constructed. As per the paradigms of this theory, the content and significance associated with racial categories are found to be determined in terms of political, social and economic forces. In the context of the society of the United States, the concept of race is found to be used in order to indicate the physical differences that exist between people as well as to signify the perceived and actual economic, behavioural and cultural differences that exist between people (Omi and Winant, 2014). In the early 19th century, the United States faced a major change due to the immigration of the Irish.

    Read More

  • Daniel Tatum The Complexity Of Identity

    683 Words  | 3 Pages

    Identity speaks of who we are as individuals but it also comes from two different groups: social and cultural. These groups are connected to power, values and ideology. Social identities are related to how we interact with people and how we present ourselves. Meanwhile cultural identities relate to society in whole such as religion, values, etc. In this paper I will talk about the dominant and subordinate identities.

    Read More

  • Essay On Nationalism In Canada

    1716 Words  | 7 Pages

    The different approaches to the construction of national identity were analyzed

    Read More

  • Social Identity Theory In Mean Girls

    1719 Words  | 7 Pages

    Introduction Social identification is a very important source of both one’s pride and self-esteem. Because groups give us a sense of social identity and belongingness to the social world, intergroup relations have a huge impact on the actions we engage ourselves in. “We are not born with senses of self. Rather, self arises from interaction with others” (Griffin, 2012). In this paper I will first give a summary of Tajfel and Turner’s Social Identity Theory.

    Read More

  • Jane Elliot's Experiment

    596 Words  | 3 Pages

    The social identity theory compares, categorizes, and identifies with certain groups. Memberships to specific groups are important. Elliot placed people in groups based on eye color so all of the blue eyed people tended to stick together and so did the brown eyed people. In the adult groups, the blue eyed people became defensive at times because of the way they were being treated and others stood up to defend from the same group in some instances, The Social Identity Theory is also defined by a sense of superiority to others (Myers, 326). Lacking a positive personal identity, people often seal self-esteem by identifying with a group (Myers, 327).

    Read More

  • Social Identity And Positionality

    1023 Words  | 5 Pages

    Positionality Paper Throughout the semester, we have had the opportunity to study many different social identities and their impacts on my life. For the purpose of this paper, the three social identities I have decided to focus on are: gender, nation of origin and race. Key Influences/Specific Events My gender was my first known identity, even before my name was given or before I had taken my first breath.

    Read More

  • Sociology Essay On Race And Ethnicity

    957 Words  | 4 Pages

    Introduction The concept of identity has been a notion of significant interest not just to sociologists and psychologists, but also to individuals found in a social context of perpetually trying to define themselves. Often times, identities are given to individuals based on their social status within a certain community, after the assessment of predominant characteristics that said individual has. However, within the context of an ethnicity, the concept identity is most probably applied to all members of the ethnical group, and not just one individual. When there is one identity designated for the entire group, often times the factor of “individuality” loses its significance, especially when referring to the relationship between the ethnic

    Read More

  • Gellner's Theory Of Nationalism

    1518 Words  | 7 Pages

    He notes that nations are a continuation of culture, territory and the heritage of communities that existed before the modern nations. This concept is the basis of the ethno-symbolic approach. Gellner’s theory of nationalism starts from the transformation of the society from an agrarian system to one that is based on industrialisation. Before industrialisation, society was based on boundaries between communities and between the different classes of the population. Mass education and social mobility achieved after industrialisation broke the barriers between communities and class.

    Read More

  • Racism And Social Identity

    970 Words  | 4 Pages

    Each individual has their own different social identity. One’s social identity is constructed based on the different influences around them. The development of social identity is influenced by various factors such as the historical, cultural and religious beliefs of the society, community or family where one is brought up. It is influenced by the behaviours and attitudes of authority figures such as parents, teachers and community leaders around them, it is also influenced by external factors such as the media, one’s peers and the overall exposure one has (Carrim, 2006, p56).

    Read More

  • Which Primordialist View On Ethnic Identity Is Too Simplistic?

    999 Words  | 4 Pages

    In reality, there is a multitude of different factors at play which shape the identity of any member of a nation or state. Despite its shortcomings, Primordialism is useful when applied to ethnicity. Primordialists claim that ethnic identity is something that is innate and born with a human being. National characteristics according to this theory would be the physical characteristics of an ethnic group, the skin color, hair type, eye shape, etc. Individuals are born with these qualities and cannot be changed like the ethnic group they were born into.

    Read More

  • Essay On Race And Ethnicity

    908 Words  | 4 Pages

    This chapter explains the difference between race and ethnicity and how they came about. It also explains the advantages and disadvantages some have due to the creation of race. Race and ethnicity have strong foundations not only within countries, but between them. Globalization has increased the individual’s ethnic identities, but has also put some at disadvantages. Having different races and ethnicities is not an issue, but ranking the different races and putting others at disadvantages creates issues.

    Read More

  • Traditional Western Approach To Modern Psychology

    1382 Words  | 6 Pages

    If we look at the aim of psychology from this perspective, the aim is to look beyond superficial differences such as gender, race and culture to unveil these processes. In traditional psychology the “Self” is seen as a restricted or bounded and autonomous being. Internal attributes such as emotions, independence, thoughts, contextual factors as well as social factors defines the

    Read More

  • Essay On Identity And Diversity

    1258 Words  | 6 Pages

    In simple terms, different identity groups such as those whose languages, religions education-levels, genders, and ethnics come together, they create a diverse

    Read More

  • Cultural Identity In Cross-Cultural Communication

    1010 Words  | 5 Pages

    Cultural identity plays a very vital role in cross cultural communication, people from a particular culture communicate with partners and employees from many different cultures and in this situation every individual strives to keep their cultural and individual identity. According to Gardiner and Kosmitzki, identity is defined as “a person 's self-definition as a separate and distinct individual, including behaviours, beliefs, and attitudes” (Gardiner & Kosmitzki, 2008, p. 154). Also, Ting-Toomey defines identity as a "reflective self-conception or self-image that we each derive from our family, gender, cultural, ethnic, and individual socialization process"( Ting-Toomey, 2005). Both definitions bring out the generalisation of cultural identity

    Read More

  • Conflicts In Moyale Essay

    1174 Words  | 5 Pages

    The stake is high when it comes to the Moyale conflicts. Therefore, this research employed theories of ethnicity in explaining the way identity is prescribed and ascribed; and theories of ethnic mobilization in describing the causes of the conflicts in Moyale and its environments. The third part deals with the historic interaction between

    Read More

More about A Psychological Analysis Of Primordialist Schools

Open Document