With immigration controversies increasingly found at the forefront of the European public arena, understanding the social and cultural forces driving negative perceptions of immigrants becomes a pressing task of academic scholarship. Situated within the broader theoretical framework of group-conflict theories, human values theory and social identity theory encourage different interpretations of how our interest to the welfare of the people closest to us (benevolence) and the broader human community (universalism) can inform attitudes towards immigrants. Human values theory argues for a unidirectional, negative effect of benevolence and universalism on negative perceptions of immigrants, while social identity theory suggests that, unlike universalism, benevolence would increase such perceptions. The present study seeks to examine how self-transcending human values (a.k.a. benevolence and universalism) affect perceptions of immigrant threat and whether the locus of our value priority matters. Using nationally pooled data from the European Social Survey (ESS) for 15 European countries, the results provide robust evidence that benevolence and universalism affect perceived immigrant threat in opposite directions, generally aligning with the propositions of the social identity theory. The group we place our loyalty matters. At the same time, national context matters too suggesting that grand scheme interpretations of this phenomenon fall short. Theoretical implications and future directions are further discussed.

As social interactions increasingly become exclusively online, there is a need for research on the role of identity and social identity in online platforms. Drawing on Symbolic Interactionist approaches to identity, namely Social Identity Theory and Identity Theory, as well as Signaling Theory, this study argues that actors will selectively use religious language to signal their credentials to an audience for the purpose of garnering prosocial behavior in the form of donations to their fundraising campaign. Using latent semantic analysis topic models to analyze the self-presentations of crowdsourcing campaigners on GoFundMe.com, this study found evidence for the presence of signaling to a religious identity online as well as a significant difference in the presentation of need for campaigns originating in areas with high reported religiosity compared to campaigns from areas of low religiosity. In comparison to other campaigns, campaigners engaging in religious signaling were significantly increasing their donations. I suggest that strategically chosen religious topics in online crowdfunding is an example of low-cost identity signaling and provides insight into how signaling happens online and the potential outcomes resulting from this cultural work.

I dagens samhälle är Instagram och influencers ett väldigt vanligt fenomen bland unga. Idag kan influencers nå ut med marknadsföring av produkter på ett helt nytt sätt än vad reklam och reklamföretag gör. De som använder sig av Instagram i störst utsträckning är tjejer i ung ålder. Eftersom influencers har ett stort inflytande på unga och att de framför allt är inriktade på marknadsföring av kläder har detta även en koppling till den sociala identiteten. Konsumtionen i samhället ökar och det finns en strävan efter att visa sin identitet genom konsumtion. Syftet med denna studie är därmed att undersöka vilken betydelse influencers och deras uppdateringar på Instagram har för 16 - 20 åriga tjejers sociala identitet och på det köpbeteende som påverkar den sociala identiteten. Den valda metoden för att undersöka ämnet består av en kvalitativ semistrukturerad intervju med tio tjejer i åldrarna 16 – 20 år. Resultatet av studien påvisar att influencers har en stor betydelse för tjejernas köpbeteende kopplat till den sociala identiteten genom att influencers är en mycket stor inspirationskälla inom flera olika områden. Samtidigt som tjejerna tycker om influencers och därmed skapar ett förtroende för dessa finns det även en tendens till att jämföra sig med dem. / In today’s society, Instagram and influencers are very common phenomena among young people. Influencers can reach out in a completely new way when marketing products compared to traditional advertising. The users of Instagram are mostly young girls. Influencers have a great influence on young people and are primarily focused on the marketing of clothes. This has an affect on social identity. With the increasing rate of consumption in society, there is an effort to show one's identity through consumption. The purpose of this study is therefore to investigate the significance of influencers and their updates on Instagram for 16 - 20 year old girls' social identity and on the consumer behavior that affects social identity. The chosen method for investigating this are qualitative semistructured interviews with ten girls aged 16 - 20 years. The results of the study show that influencers have great significance for the girls' consumer behavior linked to social identity. Influencers are a very large source of inspiration for the girls in several different areas. At the same time as the girls find influencers likeable and build a trust for them, they also have a tendency to compare themselves to the influencers.

This study aims to examine if English as a L2 influences the construction of Swedes’ social identities but also whether any linguistic strategies are used to strengthen their identity. Furthermore, the study aims to study if there is a difference in bilingual Swedes' reflections on the topic compared to multilingual Swedes. With Giles and Johnson’s Ethnolinguistic Identity Theory and Gumperz’ Interactional Theory as theoretical backgrounds, data was gathered through both quantitative methods, such as an online questionnaire, and qualitative methods in the form of a focus group consisting of both bilingual and multilingual Swedes. The results vary as some of the participants see English as influential to their identity construction while others view it merely as a practical tool. Moreover, the data also shows that it is more common amongst multilingual Swedes to use linguistic strategies such as code-switching, to strengthen their in-group relationships whilst bilingual participants used linguistic strategies for a different purpose: to distance themselves from their in-group identity.

Recentemente è cresciuto l'interesse tra i ricercatori di psicologia applicata nel misurare l'associazione tra identità sociali multiple e adattamento psicologico. Attingendo dal Social Identity Approach, dall'Intersectionality Theory e dalle teorie sull'integrazione identitaria, in questa raccolta di studi viene analizzata la relazione tra identità multiple e adattamento psicologico adottando diversi metodi. / Recently, there has been increased interest among applied psychological researchers in measuring the associations between intersecting social identities and individual psychological adjustment. Drawing upon social identity approach, intersectionality, identity integration theories and research, in this collection of studies we analyze the relationship between multiple identities and psychological outcomes adopting different methods.

Summary This study deals with Jesus and the outsiders in John 4, with particular focus on John 4:1-42. Methodologically, the study focuses on social identity theory, and asks the question of how Jesus gets the Samaritan woman, who is a member of the outside group, into the insider group. The focus of the study is thus what the behaviour and attitude of the historical and non-conventional Jesus, in the strongly hierarchical social structure of his day, was toward outsiders. John 4:1-42 is often used in works that focus on missional tendencies in the church. This research attempts to place the missionary responsibility of the church on the table in a new light, resulting from the research results. Firstly, the inter-relational connection between identity, ethos and ethics with regard to Jesus’ attitude toward the outsiders in John 4:1-42 is researched. Secondly, the interpretation history of John is described, whereafter the social-scientific approach and the way in which social identity theory can be applied to John 4:1-42, is described. The purpose of the study is to suggest a new missional approach for the church, based on the research results of the study. In John 4:1-42 Jesus did not only repair the relationship between Him as a Jew and the Samaritan woman, but also the broken relationship between the Samaritans and the Jews - two previously conflicting ethnic groups who are now born into the new family of God (John 1:12). In the narrative, the Samaritan woman becomes a μαρτυρούσης (John 4:39). The result of the Samaritan woman’s testimony (John 4:39) becomes a personal testimony that eventually convinces the others of Jesus’ true identity (John 4:39). The woman’s testimony provided the initial impetus for them to come to Jesus, but now they have heard for themselves and have drawn their own conclusion. Many had believed in Jesus on account of the Samaritan woman’s testimony. Many more believed on account of Jesus’ word. Jesus’ harvest among the Samaritans therefore signals the return of a part of the unbelieving world to God as a first sign of the universal scope of Jesus’ saving mission. / Thesis (PhD)-- University of Pretoria 2017. / New Testament Studies / PhD / Unrestricted

<p><a>This study sought to identify obstacles and challenges that impact political participation and involvement among Latino voters. At the same time, it explored how the Latino Democrats of Allen County (LDAC), a constituency caucus in a primarily conservative area, could address such barriers to engage Latinos from the area politically (specifically in support of the Democratic party). Social Identity Theory provided a backdrop from which to examine the challenges and obstacles that Latinos face to participating in local government. By exploring these questions from the perspective of Social Identity Theory, I examined how a demographic in a primarily conservative area grapples with their political participation. Findings suggest that Latinos struggle with their participation due to lack of awareness about opportunity, low political efficacy, lack of trust in the political process and those that facilitate it, and lack of education about how the political process works. Literature on communication strategies and techniques used by organizations and groups with similar structures and goals provided a roadmap for constructing a functional and meaningful strategic communication plan for LDAC based on the findings from this study.</a></p>

This essay explores the theme of identity in Kiley Reid’s Such a Fun Age (2019). The study departs from intersectionality (Crenshaw 1989; McCall 2005) and focuses on the concepts of race (Barnshaw 2008; Keaton 2018), social class (Peckham 2010) and privilege (Bhopal 2018), which rest on a common ground of gender. Moreover, these are all elements of a person’s social identity (Eriksen 2014) and will be examined as such. Through the main characters of Emira and Alix, this essay analyzes and compares the construction of the self, how their social identities affect that process of construction, and how they relate to those social identities.

This dissertation focuses on the development of autism in the Czech Republic from an historical-sociological perspective. The study pursues the structural processes related to autism and their impacts on individuals, as well as the roles of various agents in the shaping of these processes. The study utilises the social constructivist approach as well as the standpoints of the interpretative stream of sociology. The concept of autism was introduced in Czechoslovakia in the 1960s. It was understood as a rare psychiatric disorder and was known about by only a few professionals. Until the beginning of the 1990s, autism wasn't recognised in Czechoslovak society. Since the beginning of the 1990s new processes have emerged, resulting in the formation of a paradigm of autism - a new dominant and increasingly recognized system of values, methods, approaches and institutions, all connected to the concept of autism. The category of autism was reconceptualized in the 1990s and has started to be used more widely in Czech society. Based on the concept of autism, new institutions have emerged, such as specialized educational approaches and services, therapeutic methods, social services and NGOs etc. Discourses of autism have also started to form. This paradigm has been crucial for the social history of autism...

Since 2008 with the Russo-Georgian war we observe the gradual deterioration of relations between Russia and the European Union which achieves its apogee during the Ukrainian crisis and the annexation of Crimea. The cultural approach is to be applied for understanding and exploration of the conflict: its reasons and mechanism. The work is aimed to define conflicting beliefs and values, considering them on a cultural basis. The current escalation of relationships is reviewed as a cultural conflict, the author claims different mentality as one of the influential factors and possible dimensions of conflict analysis. This work also points out internal cultural mechanisms and features provoking aggressive external policy and considers cultural identity as a container of ideas which justify and originate opposition and conflict with other cultures. This work is an attempt to introduce a concept of an individual's mentality, to link personal and group mentality and find out how cultural meaning content influences on formation of a personal mindset - a system of personal beliefs and values. Research part consists of preliminary comparative questionnaire-based survey with 30 respondents, secondary analysis of World Value Survey, and 10 depth interviews based on 3 survey questions, analyzed by means of mental...