Attribution theory definition is a theory that attempts to explain the interpretive process by which people make judgments about the causes of their own behavior and the behavior of others. Equilibrium between these opposing needs can be achieved by affiliating with clearly bounded groups. A great deal of research has focused on work group diversity, but management scholars have only recently focused on inclusion. This means that the path to optimal distinctiveness likely demonstrates equifinality. I read an article the other day by meghna sabhararwal and i am confused with a couple theories that continued. In her optimal distinctiveness theory, brewer 1991 suggests that the need to be an individual i. Optimal distinctiveness theory membership to groups creates equilibrium between needs. Brewer a cognitiveneoassociation theory of aggression leonard berkowitz needtobelong theory roy f. We want to be an individual within a group, to be different but not too different.
Relative deprivation theory originated from samuel stouffer and colleagues 1949 classic sociological work the american soldier. Creates strong sense of social identity and group loyalty. Brewer finds that an individual is constantly negotiating the need to individuate the self. Using marilyn brewers optimal distinctiveness theory odt as a framework, this article examines how prince negotiated his social identity as an integral part of two worldsafrican americans and the music industry while standing apart from both. Brewer argues that conformity and differentiation are contrasting but basic human needs, which exist in opposition to one another. Paul, pickett, sherman, and schank 2012 used optimal distinctiveness theory brewer 1991 to inform a schellingesque model 1971 of how different social configurations could stabilize, showing that a social spaces initial configuration strongly affects the. At a general level, selfpsychology is compelled to investigate the question of how the personal self relates to the social environment.
A model of optimal distinctiveness is proposed in which social identity is viewed as a reconciliation of opposing needs for assimilation and differentiation from others. According to optimal distinctiveness theory and self. Recent work has called for a more comprehensive theory of optimal distinctiveness zhao et al. Social identity, distinctiveness, and ingroup homogeneity social identity, distinctiveness, and ingroup homogeneity brewer, marilynn b. How to achieve optimal distinctiveness remains unclear. Complications to optimal distinctiveness theory the effect of threat on optimal distinctiveness. One explanation is what psychologists call optimal distinctiveness theory. Psychological needsatisfaction and subjective wellbeing. According to this model, individuals avoid selfconstruals that are either too personalized or too inclusive and instead define themselves in terms of distinctive category. Optimal distinctiveness theory research papers academia. Prince has left an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of people everywhere, not only in the usa but also globally. Hello rfeminism this is my first post here so go easy on me. In this article, the authors first use brewers optimal distinctiveness theory to develop a definition of employee inclusion in.
Constraint interaction in generative grammar, 19932004. Attribution theory definition of attribution theory by. In both studies, perceptions of optimal distinctiveness mediated effects. Optimal identities are group memberships that meet the. Optimal distinctiveness theory by lucy boyd on prezi. In optimal distinctiveness theory, it is suggested that individuals pursue an optimally distinctive identity at the personal level when their collective identity no longer sustains the balance between need for assimilation and differentiation. The effect of uniform virtual appearance on conformity. Optimal distinctiveness signals membership trust geoffrey j. Another contemporary psychological needs theory, centered on group involvement specifically, is optimal distinctiveness theory odt. Instead, what level of distinctiveness strikes the optimal balance between pressures to be similar or different depends crucially on what others in the firms category do. It asserts that individuals desire to attain an optimal balance of inclusion and distinctiveness within and between social groups and situations brewer, 2003. Brewer, 1991 which asserts that individuals desire to attain an optimal balance of connectedness and distinctiveness within and between social groups and situations.
We want to be distinctive to a certain degree, but we want to be in a group as well. Side posits that sharing the same visual cue can promote group identification process and eventually induce stronger conformity. Discussion focuses on the value of relative size and optimal distinctiveness, and when membership trust. Characterizing drug nonusers as distinctive in prevention. Stouffer and his coauthors found, to their surprise, that american soldiers in highstatus units reported being less satisfied with their situation, despite their more promising career opportunities, than american soldiers in lowstatus units. Social psychology and human nature 4e chapter 14 quizlet. Attribution theoryor rather, a family of attribution theoriesis concerned with the question of how ordinary people explain human behavior. Optimal distinctiveness theory argues that people want to be affiliated with groups that enable them to optimally balance their belongingness need and the distinctiveness need brewer 1991, 1993.
This study integrates social identity model of deindividuation effects side and optimal distinctiveness theory odt in investigating the effect of uniform virtual appearance on individuals willingness to conform to a majority opinion in computermediated groups. Confused with social identity theory, social comparison theory, and optimal distinctiveness theory. Optimal distinctiveness theory dr simon moss sicotests. Brewer, 1991, 1993a,b argues that people can respond to membership of an overly inclusive group by engaging in a drive for subgroup distinctiveness. Addressing this call, i examine the effects of one salient contextual. As a result, the inclusion literature is still under development, with limited agreement on the conceptual underpinnings of this construct. Handbook of theories of social psychology book, 2012. Some, we are born into gender, race and others we choose to take part in what college we choose to attend, clubs, etc. Broadening the interface between institutional theory and strategic management. We tested this assumption via 2 online experimental studies in the context of brand consumption. The role of optimal distinctiveness and homophily in online.
The original statements of social identity theory tajfel, 1981 and the subsequent development of selfcategorization theory turner et al. To the extent that these theories place themselves in the tradition of psychological social psychology, they focus on explaining an individuals actions within a group in terms of mental events and states. Selfcontrol theory walter mischel selfverification theory william b. Social identity, distinctiveness, and ingroup homogeneity. Studies have proposed an inverted ushaped association between distinctiveness and its advantages brewer and pickett 1999. The theory of optimal distinctiveness is a theory of the motivational underpinnings of group identification which holds that group identities are selected and maintained to help the individual achieve a balance between the need for inclusion and the need for differentiation from others. The goal of this article is to demonstrate that consumers from. In experiment 2, participants also preferred joining minorities over more powerful majorities. The role of optimal distinctiveness and homophily in. Optimal distinctiveness theory in social psychology. Badea, jetten, czukor, and askevisleherpeux 2010, however, did show that individuals prefer groups that are moderate in size, partly consistent with optimal distinctiveness, unless these participants felt this collective was threatened. According to theory, we all have a need for self esteem, which fuels motivational and cognitive biases in social perception aimed at feeling good about ourselves. Equilibrium between these opposing needs can be achieved by affiliating.
View optimal distinctiveness theory research papers on academia. Distinctiveness definition of distinctiveness by the free. Building on their definition, the authors then present a framework of inclusion. Odt is a theory of motivations underlying memberships in social groups. Optimal distinctiveness theory optimal distinctiveness theory was developed to fill a gap in extant theories of social identity. Whats the value of being different when everyone is. Identity is the qualities, beliefs, personality, looks andor expressions that make a person selfidentity as emphasized in psychology or group collective identity as preeminent in sociology.
Providing a comprehensive exploration of the major developments of social psychological theories that have taken place over the past half century, this innovative twovolume handbook is a state of the art overview of the primary theories and models that have been developed in this vast and fascinating field. The basic tenet is that people have a need to belong and feel similar to others, yet at the same time to differentiate from others and to feel unique brewer, 1991. Sep 26, 2017 prince has left an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of people everywhere, not only in the usa but also globally. Clouding matters further, how a firm seeks legitimation and pursues differentiation is contextual depending on industry, technology stage, constituents and other factors. Both effects occurred only when minorities were 20% rather than 45%. These two motives are in constant opposition with each other. A psychological identity relates to selfimage ones mental model of oneself, selfesteem, and individuality. One type of attribution theory emphasizes peoples use of folk psychology to detect and understand internal states such as goals, desires, or intentions. Paul, pickett, sherman, and schank 2012 used optimal distinctiveness theory brewer 1991 to inform a schellingesque model 1971 of how different social configurations could stabilize, showing that a social spaces initial configuration strongly affects the persistent patterns of group identity. Optimal distinctiveness theory definition everyone needs to belong.
Attribution theory in social psychology iresearchnet. An exploratory investigation of identity negotiation and. Data from a large scale cohort survey of 4156 1821. According to optimal distinctiveness theory, sufficiently small minority groups are associated with greater membership trust, even among members otherwise unknown, because the groups are seen as optimally distinctive. Brewer, 1991, 1993a provides one model of psychological needs relevant for understanding wellbeing within group contexts. Optimality theory was introduced in the 1990s by linguists alan prince and paul smolensky optimality theory. Optimal distinctiveness theory optimal distinctiveness theory odt. Confused with social identity theory, social comparison. Odt proposes two motivational principles applicable to individuals within groups, namely, assimilation and differentiation. Though originally developed from generative phonology, the principles of optimality theory have also been applied in studies of syntax, morphology, pragmatics, language change, and other areas.
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