Social Identity, Self-Categorization, and the Communication of Group Norms
Abstract
We articulate the role of norms within the social identity perspective as a basis for theorizing a number of manifestly communicative phenomena. We describe how group norms are cognitively represented as context-dependent prototypes that capture the distinctive properties of groups. The same process that governs the psychological salience of different prototypes, and thus generates group normative behavior, can be used to understand the formation, perception, and diffusion of norms, and also how some group members, for example, leaders, have more normative influence than others. We illustrate this process across a number of phenomena and make suggestions for future interfaces between the social identity perspective and communication research. We believe that the social identity approach represents a truly integrative force for the communication discipline.
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Social norms are tied to groups and influence an individual's behavior because the group is relevant for the individual in the respective social context.
“Social norms are tied to groups and influence an individual's behavior because the group is relevant for the individual in the respective social context (Geber & Hefner, 2019; Hogg & Reid, 2006).”
From The Impact of Social Norms on Adolescents’ Self-Presentation Practices on Social Media (2024) · cites this paper as Hogg & Reid, 2006
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- Authors
- Hogg, M. A., & Reid, S. A.
- Affiliations
- The University of Queensland (AU)
- University of California, Santa Barbara (US)
- ORCID
- Hogg, Michael A.
- Venue
- Communication Theory
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2006-02
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 7-30
- ISSN
- 1050-3293 (ISSN-L)
- 1468-2885
- OpenAlex
- W2054158776
- Cited by
- 1,399
- References
- 13
- Citations by year
- 2026: 74 · 2025: 107 · 2024: 96 · 2023: 88 · 2022: 129 · 2021: 101 · 2020: 154 · 2019: 132 · 2018: 85 · 2017: 70 · 2016: 56 · 2015: 65 · 2014: 56 · 2013: 48 · 2012: 49
- FWCI
- 53.45
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Communication Theory (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social Power and Status Dynamics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Team Dynamics and Performance
- Keywords
- social identity, self-categorization, group norms, prototype, normative influence, group leaders, norm diffusion, norm formation, norm perception, group identity
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