Social Identity Approaches

Built on the foundations of social identity theory (Tajfel, 1974) and self-categorisation theory (Turner, Hogg, Oakes, Reicher and Wetherell, 1987), social cure researchers argue that social identification with a group is an important predictor of positive health outcomes.

This page signposts the reader towards a range of resources on the topic of Social Identity Approaches. Within this reading list and resources there is a focus on Social Identity and health and in particular, the use of physical activity in health promotion activities.

Key Texts

Haslam, C., Jetten, J., Cruwys, T., Dingle, G., & Haslam, S. A. (2018). The New Psychology of Health. Unlocking the Social Cure. Routledge.

Haslam, S. A., Fransen, K., & Boen, F. (Eds.). (2020). The New Psychology of Sport and Exercise: The Social Identity Approach. SAGE

A recent publication

De Hoog, N., & Pat-El, R. (2024). Social identity and health-related behavior: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Social Science & Medicine, 344, 116629. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116629

Bruner, M. W., Dunlop, W. L., & Beauchamp, M. R. (2014). A social identity perspective on group processes in sport and exercise. In M.R. Beauchamp and M.A. Eys Group dynamics in exercise and sport psychology (2nd Ed.). Routledge. 38-52. http://psulibrary.palawan.edu.ph/wtbooks/resources/pdf/908450.pdf#page=69

Cameron, J. E., Voth, J., Jaglal, S. B., Guilcher, S. J., Hawker, G., & Salbach, N. M. (2018). “In this together”: Social identification predicts health outcomes (via self-efficacy) in a chronic disease self-management program. Social Science & Medicine, 208, 172-179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2018.03.007

Cruwys, T., Haslam, C., Haslam, S. A., Rathbone, J. A., & Donaldson, J. L. (2022). Acceptability and Feasibility of an Intervention to Enhance Social Group Belonging: Evidence From Three Trials of Groups 4 Health. Behavior Therapy, 53(6), 1233-1249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2022.06.011

Cruwys, T., Steffens, N. K., Haslam, S. A., Haslam, C., Jetten, J., & Dingle, G. A. (2016). Social Identity Mapping: A procedure for visual representation and assessment of subjective multiple group memberships. British Journal of Social Psychology, 55(4), 613-642. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjso.12155

Cruwys, T., Haslam, C., Rathbone, J. A., Williams, E., Haslam, S. A., & Walter, Z. C. (2022). Groups 4 Health versus cognitive–behavioural therapy for depression and loneliness in young people: Randomised phase 3 non-inferiority trial with 12-month follow-up. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 220(3), 140–147. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.2021.128

Cruwys, T., Haslam, S. A., Dingle, G. A., Haslam, C., & Jetten, J. (2014). Depression and Social Identity: An Integrative Review. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 18(3), 215–238. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088868314523839

Cruwys, T., Platow, M. J., Angullia, S. A., Chang, J. M., Diler, S. E., Kirchner, J. L., Lentfer, C. E., Lim, Y. J., Quarisa, A., Tor, V. W. L., & Wadley, A. L. (2012). Modeling of food intake is moderated by salient psychological group membership. Appetite, 58(2), 754–757. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2011.12.002

Cruwys, T., Steffens, N. K., Haslam, S. A., Haslam, C., Hornsey, M. J., McGarty, C., & Skorich, D. P. (2020). Predictors of social identification in group therapy. Psychotherapy Research, 30(3), 348–361. https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2019.1587193

Cruwys, T., Wakefield, J. R. H., Sani, F., Dingle, G. A., & Jetten, J. (2018). Social Isolation Predicts Frequent Attendance in Primary Care. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 52(10), 817–829. https://doi.org/10.1093/abm/kax054

Evans, M. B., McLaren, C., Budziszewski, R., & Gilchrist, J. (2018). When a sense of “we” shapes the sense of “me”: exploring how groups impact running identity and behavior. Self and Identity, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298868.2018.1436084

Draper, G., & Dingle, G. A. (2021). “It’s not the same”: A comparison of the psychological needs satisfied by musical group activities in face to face and virtual modes. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. https://dx.doi.org/10.3389%2Ffpsyg.2021.646292

Drury, J., Carter, H., Cocking, C., Ntontis, E., Tekin Guven, S., & Amlôt, R. (2019). Facilitating collective psychosocial resilience in the public in emergencies: Twelve recommendations based on the social identity approach. Frontiers in public health, 7, 141.

Evans, M. B., McLaren, C., Budziszewski, R., & Gilchrist, J. (2019). When a sense of “we” shapes the sense of “me”: Exploring how groups impact running identity and behavior. Self and Identity, 18(3), 227–246. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298868.2018.1436084

Fong, P., Cruwys, T., Robinson, S. L., Haslam, S. A., Haslam, C., Mance, P. L., & Fisher, C. L. (2021). Evidence that loneliness can be reduced by a whole-of-community intervention to increase neighbourhood identification. Social Science & Medicine, 277, 113909. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.113909

Franke, T., Sims-Gould, J., Nettlefold, L., Ottoni, C., & McKay, H. A. (2021). “It makes me feel not so alone”: Features of the Choose to Move physical activity intervention that reduce loneliness in older adults. BMC Public Health, 21(1), 312. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10363-1

Fransen, K., Cruwys, T., Haslam, C., Iserbyt, P., Seghers, J., Vanderlinden, J., van Uffelen, J., Verbaanderd, E., & Boen, F. (2022). Leading the way together: A cluster randomised controlled trial of the 5R Shared Leadership Program in older adult walking groups. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 19(1), 63. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-022-01297-x

Gallagher, S., Meaney, S., & Muldoon, O. T. (2014). Social identity influences stress appraisals and cardiovascular reactions to acute stress exposure. British Journal of Health Psychology, 19(3), 566–579. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjhp.12056

Grant, F., Hogg, M. A., & Crano, W. D. (2015). Yes, we can: Physical activity and group identification among healthy adults. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 45(7), 383-390. https://doi.org/10.1111/jasp.12305

Greenaway, K. H., Cruwys, T., Haslam, S. A., & Jetten, J. (2016). Social identities promote well‐being because they satisfy global psychological needs. European Journal of Social Psychology, 46(3), 294-307. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsp.2169

Greenaway, K. H., Haslam, S. A., Cruwys, T., Branscombe, N. R., Ysseldyk, R., & Heldreth, C. (2015). From “we” to “me”: Group identification enhances perceived personal control with consequences for health and well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 109(1), 53–74. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspi0000019

Haslam, C., Bertschy, K., Cruwys, T., Griffin, J., & Johnson, D. (2022). The group mechanism in treatment: Group identification and cohesion contributes to reducing chronic lower back pain by increasing personal control. Disability and Rehabilitation, 0(0), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2022.2057602

Haslam, C., Cruwys, T., & Haslam, S. A. (2014). “The we’s have it”: Evidence for the distinctive benefits of group engagement in enhancing cognitive health in aging. Social Science & Medicine, 120, 57–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.08.037

Haslam, C., Cruwys, T., Haslam, S. A., Dingle, G., & Chang, M. X. L. (2016). Groups 4 Health: Evidence that a social-identity intervention that builds and strengthens social group membership improves mental health. Journal of Affective Disorders, 194, 188-195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2016.01.010

Haslam, S. A., Gaffney, A. M., Hogg, M. A., Rast, D. E., & Steffens, N. K. (2022). Reconciling identity leadership and leader identity: A dual-identity framework. The Leadership Quarterly, 33(4), 101620. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2022.101620

Haslam, C., Haslam, S. A., Jetten, J., Cruwys, T., & Steffens, N. K. (2021). Life Change, Social Identity, and Health. Annual Review of Psychology, 72, 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-060120-111721

Haslam, S. A., Haslam, C., Jetten, J., Cruwys, T., & Bentley, S. V. (2020). Rethinking the nature of the person at the heart of the biopsychosocial model: Exploring social changeways not just personal pathways. Social Science & Medicine, 113566. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113566

Haslam, S. A., Haslam, C., Cruwys, T., Jetten, J., Bentley, S. V., Fong, P., & Steffens, N. K. (2022). Social identity makes group-based social connection possible: Implications for loneliness and mental health. Current Opinion in Psychology, 43, 161-165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.07.013

Haslam, S. A., Haslam, C., Jetten, J., Cruwys, T., & Bentley, S. (2019). Group life shapes the psychology and biology of health: The case for a sociopsychobiological model. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 13(8), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1111/spc3.12490

Haslam, S. A., Reicher, S. D., & Reynolds, K. J. (2012). Identity, influence, and change: Rediscovering John Turner's vision for social psychology. British Journal of Social Psychology, 51(2), 201-218. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8309.2011.02091.x

Häusser, J. A., Junker, N. M., & van Dick, R. (2020). The how and the when of the social cure: A conceptual model of group‐and individual‐level mechanisms linking social identity to health and well‐being. European Journal of Social Psychology, 50(4), 721-732. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsp.2668

Hogg, M. A. (2001). A social identity theory of leadership. Personality and social psychology review, 5(3), 184-200. https://doi.org/10.1207%2FS15327957PSPR0503_1

Hogg, M. A., & Williams, K. D. (2000). From I to we: Social identity and the collective self. Group dynamics: Theory, research, and practice, 4(1), 81. https://doi.org/10.1037/1089-2699.4.1.81

Hornsey, M. J. (2008). Social identity theory and self‐categorization theory: A historical review. Social and personality psychology compass, 2(1), 204-222. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-9004.2007.00066.x

Jetten, J., Branscombe, N. R., Haslam, S. A., Haslam, C., Cruwys, T., Jones, J. M., Cui, L., Dingle, G., Liu, J., Murphy, S., Thai, A., Walter, Z., & Zhang, A. (2015). Having a Lot of a Good Thing: Multiple Important Group Memberships as a Source of Self-Esteem. PLOS ONE, 10(5), e0124609. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0124609

Jetten, J., Haslam, C., & Haslam, S. A. (Eds.). (2012). The social cure: Identity, health and well-being. Psychology Press.

Jetten, J., Haslam, S. A., Cruwys, T., & Branscombe, N. R. (2018). Social Identity, Stigma, and Health. In B. Major, J. F. Dovidio, & B. G. Link (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Stigma, Discrimination, and Health (p. 0). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190243470.013.18

Jetten, J., Haslam, S. A., Cruwys, T., Greenaway, K. H., Haslam, C., & Steffens, N. K. (2017). Advancing the social identity approach to health and well-being: Progressing the social cure research agenda: Applying the social cure. European Journal of Social Psychology, 47(7), 789–802. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsp.2333

Kyprianides, A., Easterbrook, M. J., & Brown, R. (2019). Group identities benefit well-being by satisfying needs. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 84,103836. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2019.103836

Levy, A., Midgley, A., Pilsworth, S., Mcgonigle, A., Wigelsworth, L., Jones, L., Wat, D., Pott, N., Bettany, M., & Matata, B. (2019). Applying the Social Identity Approach to Public Health. A Case Example of Theory in Practice. The European Health Psychologist, 21(1), 595–601.

Martiny, S. E., Roth, J., Jelenec, P., Steffens, M. C., & Croizet, J. C. (2012). When a new group identity does harm on the spot: Stereotype threat in newly created groups. European Journal of Social Psychology, 42(1), 65-71. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsp.840

Oyserman, D., Fryberg, S. A., & Yoder, N. (2007). Identity-based motivation and health. Journal of personality and social psychology, 93(6), 1011. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/0022-3514.93.6.1011

Platow, M. J., Grace, D. M., & Smithson, M. J. (2012). Examining the preconditions for psychological group membership: Perceived social interdependence as the outcome of self-categorization. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 3(1), 5-13. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1948550611407081

Portman, R. M., Levy, A. R., Mooney, K. M., Whittaker, E. M., & Fairclough, S. J. (2019). Towards an understanding of the social identity approach in exercise referral schemes: A brief commentary. Sport & Exercise Psychology Review, 15(11), 25–30. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=134289112&site=eds-live

Reicher, S. D., Haslam, S. A., & Platow, M. J. (2018). Shared social identity in leadership. Current Opinion in Psychology. DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2018.08.006

Reynolds, K. J., Branscombe, N. R., Suba, E., & Willis, L. (2020). Changing Behavior Using Social Identity Processes. In M. Hagger, L. Cameron, K. Hamilton, N. Hankonen, & T. Lintunen (Eds.), The Handbook of Behaviour Change (pp. 225–236). https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108677318.016

Rowe, L. F., & Slater, M. J. (2021). Will ‘we’ continue to exercise? The associations between group identification, identity leadership, and relational identification on group exercise class adherence. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 6 (3), 670-681. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1747954120987140

Salice, A., & Miyazono, K. (2020). Being one of us. Group identification, joint actions, and collective intentionality. Philosophical Psychology, 33(1), 42-63. https://doi.org/10.1080/09515089.2019.1682132

Sherif, M. (1936). The psychology of social norms. https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.264611

Spears, R., Doosje, B., & Ellemers, N. (1999). Commitment and the context of social perception. In N. Ellemers, R. Spears, & B. Doosje (Eds.), Social identity: Context, commitment, content (pp. 59-83). Oxford, England: Blackwell Science.

Steffens, N. K., Haslam, S. A., Reicher, S. D., Platow, M. J., Fransen, K., Yang, J., Ryan, M. K., Jetten, J., Peters, K., & Boen, F. (2014). Leadership as social identity management: Introducing the Identity Leadership Inventory (ILI) to assess and validate a four-dimensional model. The Leadership Quarterly, 25(5), 1001–1024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2014.05.002

Steffens, N. K., Haslam, S. A., Schuh, S. C., Jetten, J., & van Dick, R. (2017). A meta-analytic review of social identification and health in organizational contexts. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 21(4), 303-335. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1088868316656701

Steffens, N. K., LaRue, C. J., Haslam, C., Walter, Z. C., Cruwys, T., Munt, K. A., Haslam, S. A., Jetten, J., & Tarrant, M. (2021). Social identification-building interventions to improve health: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Health Psychology Review, 15(1), 85–112. https://doi.org/10.1080/17437199.2019.1669481

Steffens, N. K., Munt, K. A., van Knippenberg, D., Platow, M. J., & Haslam, S. A. (2021). Advancing the social identity theory of leadership: A meta-analytic review of leader group prototypicality. Organizational Psychology Review, 11(1), 35–72. https://doi.org/10.1177/2041386620962569

Steffens, N. K., Rue, C. J. La, Haslam, C., Walter, Z. C., Munt, K. A., Haslam, S. A., … Tarrant, M. (2019). Social identification-building interventions to improve health : A systematic review and meta- analysis. Health Psychology Review, 0(0), 1–66. https://doi.org/10.1080/17437199.2019.1669481

Steffens, N. K., Slade, E. L., Stevens, M., Haslam, S. A., & Rees, T. (2019). Putting the ‘we’ into workout: The association of identity leadership with exercise class attendance and effort, and the mediating role of group identification and comfort. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 45, 101544. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2019.101544

Stevens, M., Rees, T., Coffee, P., Haslam, S. A., Steffens, N. K., & Polman, R. (2018). Leaders promote attendance in sport and exercise sessions by fostering social identity. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 28(9), 2100-2108. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.13217

Stevens, M., & Cruwys, T. (2020). Membership in Sport or Exercise Groups Predicts Sustained Physical Activity and Longevity in Older Adults Compared to Physically Active Matched Controls. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 54(8), 557–566. https://doi.org/10.1093/abm/kaaa003

Stevens, M., Cruwys, T., Rees, T., Haslam, S.A., H., Boen, F., & Fransen, K. (2020). Physical activity. In S.A. Haslam, K. Fransen, & F. Boen (Eds.). The new psychology of sport and exercise: The social identity approach (pp. 167-186). SAGE.

Stevens, M., Fitzpatrick, Á., & Cruwys, T. (2022). The effect of descriptive norms and social identification on performance and exertion during a physical fitness task. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 32(2), 313–323. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.14072

Stevens, M., Rees, T., Coffee, P., Steffens, N. K., Haslam, S. A., & Polman, R. (2017). A social identity approach to understanding and promoting physical activity. Sports Medicine, 47(10), 1911-1918. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-017-0720-4

Stevens, M., Rees, T., Coffee, P., Steffens, N. K., Haslam, S. A., & Polman, R. (2020). Leading us to be active: A two-wave test of relationships between identity leadership, group identification, and attendance. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, 9(1), 128.

Stevens, M., Rees, T., & Cruwys, T. (2021). Social identity leadership in sport and exercise: Current status and future directions. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 55, 101931. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2021.101931

Stevens, M., Rees, T., Steffens, N. K., Haslam, S. A., Coffee, P., & Polman, R. (2019). Leaders’ creation of shared identity impacts group members’ effort and performance: Evidence from an exercise task. PLOS ONE, 14(7), e0218984. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0218984

Stevens, M., White, S., Robertson, A. M., & Cruwys, T. (2022). Understanding exercise class attendees’ in-class behaviors, experiences, and future class attendance: The role of class leaders’ identity entrepreneurship. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, No Pagination Specified-No Pagination Specified. https://doi.org/10.1037/spy0000305

Stevens, M., White, S., Robertson, A. M., & Cruwys, T. (2022). Repeated exercise class attendance: The role of class members' similarity and social identification. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 61, 102212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2022.102212

Strachan, S. M., Shields, C. A., Glassford, A., & Beatty, J. (2012). Role and group identity and adjustment to the possibility of running group disbandment. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 13(4), 436-443. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2012.01.007

Stuart, A., Stevenson,C., Koschate, M., Cohen, J., Levine , M. (2021) ‘Oh no, not a group!’ The factors that lonely or isolated people report as barriers to joining groups for health and well-being. British Journal of Health Psychology https://doi.org/10.1111/bjhp.12536

Tajfel, H. (1974). Social identity and intergroup behaviour. Information (International Social Science Council), 13(2), 65-93. https://doi.org/10.1177/053901847401300204

Tarrant, M., & Butler, K. (2011). Effects of self‐categorization on orientation towards health. British Journal of Social Psychology, 50(1), 121-139. https://doi.org/10.1348/014466610X511645

Tarrant, M., Haslam, C., Carter, M., Calitri, R., & Haslam, S. A. (2020). Social Identity Interventions. In K. Hamilton, L. D. Cameron, M. S. Hagger, N. Hankonen, & T. Lintunen (Eds.), The Handbook of Behavior Change (pp. 649–660). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108677318.044

Tarrant, M., Haslam, C., Carter, M., Calitri, R., & Haslam, S. (2020). Social Identity Interventions. In M. Hagger, L. Cameron, K. Hamilton, N. Hankonen, & T. Lintunen (Eds.), The Handbook of Behavior Change (Cambridge Handbooks in Psychology, pp. 649-660). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108677318.044

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Turner, J.C., Hogg, M.A., Oakes, P.J., Reicher, S.D., Wetherell, M.S. (1987) Rediscovering the Social Group: A Self-Categorization Theory. Oxford, UK: Basil Blackwell.

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Wakefield, J. R. H., Bowe, M., Kellezi, B., McNamara, N., & Stevenson, C. (2019). When groups help and when groups harm: Origins, developments, and future directions of the “Social Cure” perspective of group dynamics. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 13(3), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1111/spc3.12440

Wakefield, J. R. H., Kellezi, B., Stevenson, C., McNamara, N., Bowe, M., Wilson, I., ... & Mair, E. (2020). Social Prescribing as ‘Social Cure’: A longitudinal study of the health benefits of social connectedness within a Social Prescribing pathway. Journal of Health Psychology, 1359105320944991. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1359105320944991

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