The DOI matches its Crossref record.
Uncertainty-Identity Theory
Abstract
Uncertainty-identity theory is an account of how feelings of self-uncertainty motivate people to identify with groups in order to reduce their uncertainty. Self-uncertainty can very effectively be reduced by group identification because the process of self-categorization as a group member ...
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Psychological models (uncertainty-identity theory, meaning maintenance model, compensatory control theory) elaborate how the defensive need to alleviate uncertainty leads to group identification, ideological inflexibility, and dogmatism.
“Psychological models, such as the uncertainty-identity theory [156], meaning maintenance model [157], and compensatory control theory [158,159], have elaborated on how the defensive need to alleviate uncertainty leads to group identification, ideological inflexibility, and dogmatism.”
From Impact of Media-Induced Uncertainty on Mental Health: Narrative-Based Perspective. (2025) · cites this paper as [156]
Citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Hogg, M. A. (2016) · Peace psychology book series · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-29869-6_1 · Cited by 1,696
Self-citationSocial identity: The role of self in group processes and intergroup relations
Hogg, M. A., Abrams, D., & Brewer, M. B. (2017) · Group Processes & Intergroup Relations · doi:10.1177/1368430217690909 · Cited by 418
Self-citationDoosje, B., Loseman, A., & van den Bos, K. (2013) · Journal of Social Issues · doi:10.1111/josi.12030 · Cited by 387
Hogg, M. A. (2014) · Current Directions in Psychological Science · doi:10.1177/0963721414540168 · Cited by 345
Self-citationWebber, D., Babush, M., Schori-Eyal, N., Vazeou-Nieuwenhuis, A., Hettiarachchi, M., Bélanger, J. J., Moyano, M., Trujillo, H. M., Gunaratna, R., Kruglanski, A. W., et al. (2018) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/pspi0000111 · Cited by 266
Dunham, Y. C. (2018) · Trends in Cognitive Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.tics.2018.06.004 · Cited by 212
Burke, P. J., & Stets, J. E. (2022) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197617182.001.0001 · Cited by 165
Group Processes and Intergroup Relations
Hogg, M. A., & Gaffney, A. M. (2018) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781119170174.epcn414 · Cited by 139
Self-citationHogg, M. A. (2020) · European Review of Social Psychology · doi:10.1080/10463283.2020.1827628 · Cited by 155
Self-citationVisions of Change as Visions of Continuity
Venus, M., Stam, D. A., & van Knippenberg, D. (2018) · Academy of Management Journal · doi:10.5465/amj.2015.1196 · Cited by 135
The Psychology of Middle Power: Vertical Code-Switching, Role Conflict, and Behavioral Inhibition
Anicich, E. M., & Hirsh, J. B. (2017) · Academy of Management Review · doi:10.5465/amr.2016.0002 · Cited by 140
Abrams, D., Lalot, F., & Hogg, M. A. (2021) · Group Processes & Intergroup Relations · doi:10.1177/1368430220983440 · Cited by 116
Self-citationThe Motivational Force of Descriptive Norms
Gelfand, M. J., & Harrington, J. R. (2015) · Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology · doi:10.1177/0022022115600796 · Cited by 110
Going to extremes: Social identity and communication processes associated with gang membership
Goldman, L., Giles, H., & Hogg, M. A. (2014) · Group Processes & Intergroup Relations · doi:10.1177/1368430214524289 · Cited by 87
Self-citationSelf-uncertainty and group identification: A meta-analysis
Choi, E. U., & Hogg, M. A. (2019) · Group Processes & Intergroup Relations · doi:10.1177/1368430219846990 · Cited by 90
Self-citationNewcomer Identification: Trends, Antecedents, Moderators, and Consequences
Zhu, J., Tatachari, S., & Chattopadhyay, P. (2016) · Academy of Management Journal · doi:10.5465/amj.2015.0466 · Cited by 78
Going to extremes for one's group: the role of prototypicality and group acceptance
Goldman, L., & Hogg, M. A. (2016) · Journal of Applied Social Psychology · doi:10.1111/jasp.12382 · Cited by 75
Self-citationGaffney, A. M., & Hogg, M. A. (2023) · Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Psychology · doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780190236557.013.681 · Cited by 73
Self-citationRosenfeld, D. L., Balcetis, E., Bastian, B. B., Berkman, E. T., Bosson, J. K., Brannon, T. N., Burrow, A. L., Cameron, C. D., Chen, S., Cook, J., et al. (2021) · Perspectives on Psychological Science · doi:10.1177/1745691621999374 · Cited by 68
Self-citationBercht, A. L. (2021) · Global Environmental Change · doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2021.102326 · Cited by 66
Belonging nowhere: Marginalization & radicalization risk among Muslim immigrants
Lyons-Padilla, S., Gelfand, M. J., Mirahmadi, H., Farooq, M., & van Egmond, M. (2015) · Behavioral Science & Policy · doi:10.1353/bsp.2015.0019 · Cited by 189
Navarro‐Carrillo, G., Valor‐Segura, I., & Moya, M. (2016) · Social Indicators Research · doi:10.1007/s11205-016-1527-7 · Cited by 59
Cook, A., Ogden, J., & Winstone, N. (2018) · Autism · doi:10.1177/1362361318787793 · Cited by 54
Peltokorpi, V., & Pudelko, M. (2020) · Journal of International Business Studies · doi:10.1057/s41267-020-00316-y · Cited by 53
Self-Uncertainty, Leadership Preference, and Communication of Social Identity
Hogg, M. A. (2018) · Atlantic Journal of Communication · doi:10.1080/15456870.2018.1432619 · Cited by 51
Self-citationBrown, A., & Leite, A. C. (2022) · Journal of Applied Social Psychology · doi:10.1111/jasp.12934 · Cited by 60
Social exclusion and xenophobia: Intolerant attitudes toward ethnic and religious minorities
Aydin, N., Krueger, J. I., Frey, D., Kastenmüller, A., & Fischer, P. A. (2013) · Group Processes & Intergroup Relations · doi:10.1177/1368430213510569 · Cited by 47
The Quest for Significance: Attitude Adaption to a Radical Group Following Social Exclusion
Bäck, E., Bäck, H., Altermark, N., & Knapton, H. (2018) · International Journal of Developmental Science · doi:10.3233/dev-170230 · Cited by 48
A Raw Deal: Heightened Liberalism Following Exposure to Anomalous Playing Cards
Proulx, T., & Major, B. (2013) · Journal of Social Issues · doi:10.1111/josi.12024 · Cited by 50
Wagoner, J. A., & Hogg, M. A. (2020) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-24612-3_1195 · Cited by 39
Self-citationRašković, M. M., & Takacs-Haynes, K. (2020) · Multinational Business Review · doi:10.1108/mbr-02-2020-0031 · Cited by 35
Kachanoff, F. J., Ysseldyk, R., Taylor, D. M., de la Sablonnière, R., & Crush, J. (2016) · European Journal of Social Psychology · doi:10.1002/ejsp.2199 · Cited by 40
Uncertainty and Influence: The Advantages (and Disadvantages) of Being Atypical
Gaffney, A. M., Rast, D. E., & Hogg, M. A. (2018) · Journal of Social Issues · doi:10.1111/josi.12254 · Cited by 34
Self-citationWagoner, J. A., & Hogg, M. A. (2017) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_1195-1 · Cited by 34
Self-citationHogg, M. A. (2015) · International Journal of Social Psychology Revista de Psicología Social · doi:10.1080/02134748.2015.1065090 · Cited by 25
Self-citationHogg, M. A. (2013) · Handbooks of sociology and social research · doi:10.1007/978-94-007-6772-0_18 · Cited by 43
Self-citationWalls between groups: Self‐uncertainty, social identity, and intergroup leadership
Hogg, M. A. (2023) · Journal of Social Issues · doi:10.1111/josi.12584 · Cited by 35
Self-citationStewart, B. D., Gulzaib, F., & Morris, D. S. M. (2019) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01236 · Cited by 30
Jung, J., Hogg, M. A., & Lewis, G. J. (2016) · Group Processes & Intergroup Relations · doi:10.1177/1368430216678329 · Cited by 30
Self-citationSources of Self-Concept Clarity
Hertel, A. W. (2017) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-71547-6_3 · Cited by 31
Reaching Across the DMZ: Identity Uncertainty and Reunification on the Korean Peninsula
Jung, J., Hogg, M. A., & Choi, H. (2015) · Political Psychology · doi:10.1111/pops.12252 · Cited by 29
Self-citationNot in My Pay Grade: The Relational Benefit of Pay Grade Dissimilarity
Zhang, L. L., George, E., & Chattopadhyay, P. (2019) · Academy of Management Journal · doi:10.5465/amj.2016.1344 · Cited by 29
Rast, D. E. (2015) · Social and Personality Psychology Compass · doi:10.1111/spc3.12163 · Cited by 35
Domains of self-uncertainty and their relationship to group identification
Hogg, M. A., & Mahajan, N. (2018) · Journal of Theoretical Social Psychology · doi:10.1002/jts5.20 · Cited by 28
Self-citationIacoviello, V., Valsecchi, G., Berent, J., Anderson, J., & Falomir‐Pichastor, J. M. (2019) · Psychology and Sexuality · doi:10.1080/19419899.2019.1675749 · Cited by 25
Yoxon, B., Hauwaert, S. M. V., & Kiess, J. M. (2017) · Acta Politica · doi:10.1057/s41269-017-0067-8 · Cited by 27
Impact of Media-Induced Uncertainty on Mental Health: Narrative-Based Perspective.
Kesner, L., Juríčková, V., Grygarová, D., & Horáček, J. (2025) · JMIR Mental Health · doi:10.2196/68640 · Cited by 23
All power to our great leader: political leadership under uncertainty
Haller, J. J., & Hogg, M. A. (2014) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9781139565417.011 · Cited by 23
Self-citationUncertainty Management Theories
Hogg, M. A., & Belavadi, S. (2017) · Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Communication · doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780190228613.013.495 · Cited by 23
Self-citationGuillén, L., Jacquart, P., & Hogg, M. A. (2022) · Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin · doi:10.1177/01461672221086771 · Cited by 22
Self-citationBelavadi, S., & Hogg, M. A. (2019) · Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks · doi:10.1108/s0882-614520190000036006 · Cited by 21
Self-citationWagoner, J. A., & Hogg, M. A. (2016) · Self and Identity · doi:10.1080/15298868.2016.1163284 · Cited by 21
Self-citationWoo, D., Giles, H., Hogg, M. A., & Goldman, L. (2015) · doi:10.1002/9781118726822.ch8 · Cited by 24
Self-citationRecategorization and ingroup projection: Two processes of identity uncertainty reduction
Jung, J., Hogg, M., & Choi, H.-S. (2018) · Journal of Theoretical Social Psychology · doi:10.1002/jts5.37 · Cited by 14
Self-citationHohman, Z. P., Dahl, E., & Grubbs, S. (2016) · Self and Identity · doi:10.1080/15298868.2016.1185462 · Cited by 17
Milesi, P. (2022) · Journal of Applied Social Psychology · doi:10.1111/jasp.12897 · Cited by 18
The diversity paradox: when people who value diversity surround themselves with like‐minded others
Hackett, J. D., & Hogg, M. A. (2014) · Journal of Applied Social Psychology · doi:10.1111/jasp.12233 · Cited by 17
Self-citationWe are victims! How observers evaluate a group’s claim of collective victimhood
Belavadi, S., & Hogg, M. A. (2018) · Journal of Applied Social Psychology · doi:10.1111/jasp.12555 · Cited by 17
Self-citationWho do you think you are? Ingroup and outgroup sources of identity validation
Choi, E. U., & Hogg, M. A. (2020) · Journal of Theoretical Social Psychology · doi:10.1002/jts5.66 · Cited by 17
Self-citationGulevich, O. A., & Осин, Е. Н. (2023) · British Journal of Social Psychology · doi:10.1111/bjso.12648 · Cited by 16
Wagoner, J. A., Antonini, M., Hogg, M. A., Barbieri, B., & Talamo, A. (2018) · Journal of Applied Social Psychology · doi:10.1111/jasp.12549 · Cited by 16
Self-citationLeippe, M. R., Bergold, A. N., & Eisenstadt, D. (2016) · The Journal of Social Psychology · doi:10.1080/00224545.2016.1184128 · Cited by 15
Using computational techniques to study social influence online
Cork, A., Everson, R., Levine, M., & Koschate, M. (2020) · Group Processes & Intergroup Relations · doi:10.1177/1368430220937354 · Cited by 17
Xu, Q., Zhang, C., Cui, Y., Hu, X., & Yu, S. (2023) · Social Indicators Research · doi:10.1007/s11205-023-03157-y · Cited by 15
Hogg, M. A., & Wagoner, J. A. (2017) · The International Encyclopedia of Intercultural Communication · doi:10.1002/9781118783665.ieicc0177 · Cited by 15
Self-citationMashuri, A., Esti Zaduqisti, C., Sakdiah, H., & Sukmawati, F. (2015) · Archive for the Psychology of Religion · doi:10.1163/15736121-12341304 · Cited by 15
Sinclair, S. (2023) · International Journal of Selection and Assessment · doi:10.1111/ijsa.12445 · Cited by 12
Group members differ in relative prototypicality: Effects on the individual and the group
Hogg, M. A. (2016) · Behavioral and Brain Sciences · doi:10.1017/s0140525x15001417 · Cited by 12
Self-citationSavage, S. V., & Sommer, Z. L. (2016) · Social Psychology Quarterly · doi:10.1177/0190272516641392 · Cited by 11
Talaifar, S., & Swann, W. (2018) · Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Psychology · doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780190236557.013.242 · Cited by 11
Montes, K. S., & Napper, L. E. (2019) · Substance Use & Misuse · doi:10.1080/10826084.2019.1573835 · Cited by 11
Prototype-based social comparisons within groups
Hogg, M. A., & Gaffney, A. M. (2014) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9781139035583.010 · Cited by 11
Self-citationRadicalisation: A Social Psychological Perspective (Part I)
Бовина, И. Б., Георгиевич, Б. Б., & Tikhonova, A. D. (2020) · Psychology and Law · doi:10.17759/psylaw.2020100309 · Cited by 10
Retaliation against the outgroup: The role of self-uncertainty
Niedbala, E. M., & Hohman, Z. P. (2018) · Group Processes & Intergroup Relations · doi:10.1177/1368430218767027 · Cited by 9
Jung, J., Hogg, M. A., Livingstone, A., & Choi, H. (2019) · Journal of Applied Social Psychology · doi:10.1111/jasp.12622 · Cited by 10
Self-citationA cheat in our midst: How people evaluate and respond to fellow group members who cheat
Ramdass, J. V., & Hogg, M. A. (2019) · Journal of Applied Social Psychology · doi:10.1111/jasp.12630 · Cited by 9
Self-citationKukula, A., Reinwald, M., Kanitz, R., & Hoegl, M. (2024) · Journal of Management · doi:10.1177/01492063241281466 · Cited by 9
Go with the flow against uncertainty about self under existential threat
Gao, Y., Kexin, L. U., & Li, H. (2020) · Self and Identity · doi:10.1080/15298868.2020.1737569 · Cited by 8
Belavadi, S., & Hogg, M. A. (2023) · Journal of Applied Social Psychology · doi:10.1111/jasp.12964 · Cited by 7
Self-citationConflict Between Ethnolinguistic Groups
Belavadi, S., & Hogg, M. A. (2015) · Journal of Language and Social Psychology · doi:10.1177/0261927x15621104 · Cited by 7
Self-citationLamarche, V. M., Croft, A., & Atkinson, C. (2025) · European Journal of Social Psychology · doi:10.1002/ejsp.3169 · Cited by 7
Let the people’s will prevail: Self-uncertainty and authoritarianism predict support for populism
Gøtzsche‐Astrup, O., & Hogg, M. A. (2023) · Group Processes & Intergroup Relations · doi:10.1177/13684302231211291 · Cited by 6
Self-citationKuljian, O. R., Hohman, Z. P., & Gaffney, A. M. (2022) · Social Psychological and Personality Science · doi:10.1177/19485506221111237 · Cited by 8
Wang, Q.-H., Geng, R., & Kim, S. H. (2023) · Information Systems Research · doi:10.1287/isre.2019.0346 · Cited by 6
Radicalisation among Young People: In Search of Risk Assessment Model
Dvoryanchikov, N. V., Георгиевич, Б. Б., & Бовина, И. Б. (2022) · Psychology and Law · doi:10.17759/psylaw.2022120215 · Cited by 6
Identity, Otherness, and Psycho-Cultural Dynamics
Mannarini, T., Salvatore, S., & Veltri, G. (2020) · Culture in policy making · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-36099-3_1 · Cited by 7
Qiu, Y., Gong, S., Yang, Y., Wang, J., & Tan, L. (2025) · Behavioral Sciences · doi:10.3390/bs15040512 · Cited by 12
Desai, S. N., & Hogg, M. A. (2023) · Journal of Applied Social Psychology · doi:10.1111/jasp.13020 · Cited by 5
Self-citationYoxon, B., Grasso, M., Karampampas, S., & Temple, L. (2019) · European Societies: The Official Journal of the European Sociological Association · doi:10.1080/14616696.2019.1583356 · Cited by 5
Ethnic and religious identity as a client’s resources in working with a psychologist
Ganieva, R. H. (2021) · Minbar Islamic Studies · doi:10.31162/2618-9569-2021-14-2-452-471 · Cited by 5
Korman, B. A., Reinwald, M., Kunze, F., & Koos, S. (2025) · Academy of Management Journal · doi:10.5465/amj.2023.0303 · Cited by 5
Social Media and Political Polarization: A Panel Study of 36 Countries from 2014 to 2020
Lu, J., Sun, M., & Liu, Z. (2024) · Social Indicators Research · doi:10.1007/s11205-024-03367-y · Cited by 7
Assessing the Risk of Radicalisation in Adolescents and Young Adults: Some Empirical Evidence
Dvoryanchikov, N. V., Георгиевич, Б. Б., Melnikova, D. V., Belova, E. D., & Бовина, И. Б. (2023) · Psychology and Law · doi:10.17759/psylaw.2023130307 · Cited by 4
Preiss, M., Heissler, R., Doubková, N., et al. (2023) · Intersections · doi:10.17356/ieejsp.v9i2.1053 · Cited by 4
Radicalisation:A Social Psychological Perspective (Part III)
Георгиевич, Б. Б., Бовина, И. Б., & Tikhonova, A. D. (2021) · Psychology and Law · doi:10.17759/psylaw.2021110114 · Cited by 4
Burke, P. J., & Stets, J. E. (2022) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197617182.003.0007 · Cited by 4
The way of water: a Daoist account of global citizenship, capabilities and critical pedagogy
Dang, J. (2025) · Asia Pacific Journal of Education · doi:10.1080/02188791.2025.2564126 · Cited by 3
Different domains of identity predict different exit strategies
Wagoner, J. A., Rinella, M. J., Barreto, N. B., Turjačanin, V., & Blaylock, D. (2022) · European Journal of Social Psychology · doi:10.1002/ejsp.2836 · Cited by 3
Self-Uncertainty and Social Identity Processes in Organizations
Hogg, M. A. (2022) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780197501061.013.8 · Cited by 3
Self-citationUnpacking the Concept of Otherness: Philosophical and Psychological Perspectives
Doubková, N., Preiss, M., & Sanders, E. (2024) · Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science · doi:10.1007/s12124-024-09820-4 · Cited by 6
Metadata
- Authors
- Hogg, M. A.
- Corresponding author
- Hogg, Michael A.
- ORCID
- Hogg, Michael A.
- Venue
- Handbook of Theories of Social Psychology
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications Ltd
- Published
- 2012-10-11
- Pages
- 62-80
- OpenAlex
- W4249788862
- Cited by
- 154
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 4
- FWCI
- 34.77
- Type
- book chapter
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- SAGE Publications Ltd eBooks (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social Power and Status Dynamics
- Keywords
- uncertainty-identity theory, self-uncertainty, group identification, self-categorization, group identity, uncertainty reduction, social identity
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review