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.

Further Reading

Beauchamp, M. R. (2019). Promoting Exercise Adherence Through Groups: A Self-Categorization Theory Perspective. Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews, 47(1), 54-61. doi: 10.1249/JES.000000000000017 

Bentley, S. V., Greenaway, K. H., Haslam, S. A., Cruwys, T., Steffens, N. K., Haslam, C., & Cull, B. (2020). Social identity mapping online. Journal of personality and social psychology, 118(2), 213. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspa000017 

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 

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. 

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 

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., 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, 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., 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 

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 

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

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    

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., 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., 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 

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., 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., 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., 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. (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 

Terry, D. J., & Hogg, M. A. (1996). Group norms and the attitude-behavior relationship: A role for group identification. Personality and social psychology bulletin, 22(8), 776-793. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0146167296228002 

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.

Turner, J. C., & Reynolds, K. J. (2011). Self-categorization theory. Handbook of theories in social psychology, 2(1), 399-417.

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    

Williams, K. D. (2009). Ostracism: A temporal need‐threat model. Advances in experimental social psychology, 41, 275-314. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2601(08)00406-1 

Further Resources

Wikipedia page on Social Identity Theory

A Timeline of Group-based research

ICSIH5