<p>Intergroup relations are characterised by favourable and unfavourable biases. Towards one’s own group these biases are mostly favourable – ingroup favouritism. Research has, however, shown that outgroup favouritism, that is, the preference for a group to which the person does not belong, also permeates intergroup relations. Several theories such as social identity theory, social dominance theory, and system justification theory offer explanations of the dynamics of intergroup relations and biases. Despite not strictly being a theory of intergroup relations, right-wing authoritarianism also offers an explanation of intergroup bias by accounting for prejudice and ethnocentrism. Likewise, ideological conservatism has been shown to influence intergroup relations. </p><p>Based within these theories, this dissertation attempts to explain the social-psychological mechanisms regulating in- and outgroup favouritism. More specifically, Study I examines issues of power and legitimacy in relation to social perception and gender. Studies II and III examine the relationships between social psychological variables and affirmative action, which is aimed at diminishing inequalities between social groups. Together, the studies showed that gender plays a role in intergroup bias, both as an independent variable and as an object of social discrimination. Conservative ideologies predicted ingroup favouritism, but variably. Attitudes towards affirmative action were influenced by the way this issue is semantically framed. The results are discussed in relation to the theories of intergroup relations exposed above and the pertinent issue of attitude ambivalence in understanding outgroup favouritism.</p>

This thesis deals with jokes and gender as social meaning. Here gender identity is regarded as one kind of social meaning. The gender identity of the individual is produced in interaction with other persons and is also conditioned by cultural codes. Of particular interest is how social identity is constituted by linguistic means. This is discussed using a model of indexicality, i.e. how linguistic features index one or more dimensions of the social context. Especially the indirect and constitutive relations between language and gender are discussed in terms of stances, acts and activities. In this context the speech act joking is seen as an example of a male gender constituent. A second theoretical angle consists of introducing some linguistic theories of humour and applying them to two empirical materials. The first material consists of audiovisual recordings of school pupils’ group discussions with no adult leader present. The pupils work with the same task, both in unisexual and mixed groups. The study focuses on describing how the speakers present suggestions of their own, and respond to the suggestions of others. The suggestions have lent themselves to being grouped into three categories: serious suggestions, playful suggestions, and joking suggestions. Identifying jokes in conversation can be difficult; thus four criteria for joke identification are applied: intention, structure, reaction and convention. Two types of structural criteria are used: semantic and rhetorical. The second material consists of a questionnaire administered to university students, which asks whom the informant apprehends as funny. A general tendency in the answers is that men only mention men, while women single out both women and men. Another tendency is that few women are found in the answers of the questions concerning the mass media, while women mention many funny women in the questions about their own everyday experiences. In this study it is argued that language use not only reflects our place in culture and society but also helps to constitute that place. Women and men encounter different cultural codes, and thus their performance of different speech acts also differs. This has an impact on the speakers’ social identity, one of which is gender identity.

Intergroup relations are characterised by favourable and unfavourable biases. Towards one’s own group these biases are mostly favourable – ingroup favouritism. Research has, however, shown that outgroup favouritism, that is, the preference for a group to which the person does not belong, also permeates intergroup relations. Several theories such as social identity theory, social dominance theory, and system justification theory offer explanations of the dynamics of intergroup relations and biases. Despite not strictly being a theory of intergroup relations, right-wing authoritarianism also offers an explanation of intergroup bias by accounting for prejudice and ethnocentrism. Likewise, ideological conservatism has been shown to influence intergroup relations. Based within these theories, this dissertation attempts to explain the social-psychological mechanisms regulating in- and outgroup favouritism. More specifically, Study I examines issues of power and legitimacy in relation to social perception and gender. Studies II and III examine the relationships between social psychological variables and affirmative action, which is aimed at diminishing inequalities between social groups. Together, the studies showed that gender plays a role in intergroup bias, both as an independent variable and as an object of social discrimination. Conservative ideologies predicted ingroup favouritism, but variably. Attitudes towards affirmative action were influenced by the way this issue is semantically framed. The results are discussed in relation to the theories of intergroup relations exposed above and the pertinent issue of attitude ambivalence in understanding outgroup favouritism.

The purpose of this study was to discover whether the phrase "men are from Mars, women are from Venus,” from John Gray’s book, had become a meme and to explore what its usage implied. Analysis of 510 references was guided by grounded theory. Coding over a decade of newspaper usage of the phrase into seven emergent themes allowed examination of usage against the theories of gender research, communication research, media research and meme theory research. This analysis revealed that this phrase meets the requirements to be considered a meme, and as a meme it has successfully assisted the survival, evolution and permeance of Gray’s premise that communication differences are inherent and immutable. While this premise is not based on established clinical and academic principles, it is an example of how incorrect and baseless ideas can displace good reasoned thinking based on research.

This article is about the causes of riots and collective social violence. The root causes are explored within context to the theoretical framework of social identity theory. The root causes were attributed to being caused by socioeconomic, ethnic and racial differences among individuals, especially immigrants and racial minorities. Also, the mass media and neglectful governments were partly to blame. We also propose a few viable solutions with regards to achieving better social cohesion through improved government interaction, the role of multinational corporations and the fostering of social tolerance.

Syftet med denna studie är att genom kvalitativa intervjuer beskriva upplevelser och erfarenheter av medierad social interaktion på Internet för klienter på behandlingshem för missbrukare. Vi ville undersöka hur detta påverkar klienternas möjligheter att förändra sina liv, identitetsskapande och sociala relationer. Vi genomförde enskilda intervjuer med tre personer som jobbar på ett behandlingshem där klienterna har fri tillgång till Internet och med en klient på samma behandlingshem, samt gruppintervjuer med sammanlagt sju personer som hade varierande erfarenhet av behandlingshem. Resultatet visar en allmän negativ syn på medierad social interaktion under behandlingstiden. Den största risken som lyfts fram under intervjuerna är att Internet försvårar för klienterna att bryta med missbruksvärlden. Kontakt med vänner och bekanta i missbruksvärlden kan leda till att klienten avbryter sin behandling. Andra risker som vårt resultat visar är att klienterna lätt kan beställa droger på Internet, att man inte fokuserar på behandlingen och att det blir svårare att bygga upp en identitet och gemenskap i den nyktra världen. / The purpose of this study is to, by using qualitative interviews, describe experiences of mediated social interaction on the Internet for clients in drug treatment. We wanted to examine how this affects clients' ability to change their lives, their identity and social relations. We conducted individual interviews with three people who work at a treatment center where clients have free access to the Internet and with one client on the same centre, and group interviews with a total of seven people who had varied experience in drugtreatment. The results show a general negative view of mediated social interaction during the treatment. The main risk is that clients need to break their connection to “the addiction world” and the Internet complicates this. Contact with friends and acquaintances in “the addiction world” may lead to the client interrupting his or hers treatment. Other risks that our results show is that clients can easily order drugs on the Internet, that you do not focus on the treatment and it makes it more difficult to build an identity and to be part of a community in the sober world.

This paper concerning the regional architectural term known as the Tjust Empire style analyses manor houses built in the Tjust area by the east coast of Småland in the period 1810-1860. The term Tjust Empire style was invented in 1937 by PhD. Manne Hofrén in his dissertation on architecture in Kalmar län in the period 1650-1850. The aim of the paper is firstly to determine whether there is a distinct difference between the regional Tjust Empire style in architecture and the common Swedish empire style or as its Swedish equivalent is known; the Karl Johan style. Secondly, the paper strives to analyse why and how the Empire style became so popular in the area during this period, focusing on architecture as a means to express social identity and status. My disposition is grounded in an ethnological viewpoint on architecture where culture is seen as created by and part of human existence. In order to give my analysis substance two case studies have been done of two manor houses in the area; Casimirsborg and Blekhem, in order to compare these with architecture representative of the Swedish Empire/Karl Johan style. The manor houses have been chosen partly because they represent the architectural style of the period well and partly due to them being accessible. As material concerning the construction of the two buildings, such as plans and sketches is sparse the opportunity to examine and analyse them at the spot has been invaluable. When I have been able to, I have used plans and fire insurance documents available. For a general view of the architecture during the period I have had to rely on material already written concerning the architecture of the time, the patrons, their architects and master builders. This has shown that the Tjust Empire style is in fact very closely tied to the common Swedish Empire or Karl Johan style and that it directly strives to commit to it. I have also been able to show that the the reason for the Tjust Empire style being so popular in the area in the period lies in a unique economic and social situation at the time; as well as, a relationship between the patrons and their favoured architects.

The current thesis extends research in the area of multiple social identities and identity conflict by focusing on both intergroup and intraindividual process underlying structures of identities, namely, religious, ethnic, and societal (national) identifications. In addition, it examined the influence of political trust, and perceived discrimination the relationship between ethnic and societal identification for disadvantaged ethnic groups in Turkey. Two studies were conducted to evaluate the process of identity organization both inter group and in group. While, the first study addresses intergroup differentiations of these identities, second study focused on intraindividual process of these identities&#039 / structure. Supporting hypothesis stemming from Social Identity Theory and Optimal Distinctiveness Theory, political trust and perceived discrimination have roles of mediation in the relationship ethnic and societal identification, by contrast with secular and religious identities in the relationship. Results were discussed for their implications to politic context of the Turkey.

Undersökningsområdet är äldre hemtjänsttagare som bor ensamma, där vi har studerat hur hemtjänsttagare blir påverkade av den så kallade upplevda ensamheten. Som teoretiska utgångspunkter används socialgerontologi och gerotranscendens då begreppen vi använder i studien återfinns i dessa båda teorier, samt att vi kopplar dessa till ett socialpedagogiskt perspektiv. Avsikten är att finna en brygga mellan de nämnda teoribildningarna.Syftet med studien är att synliggöra och analysera ensamhet som socialt fenomen för äldre hemtjänsttagare i relation till social identitet och olika sociala nätverksband. Den första frågeställningen som studien vill besvara är hur äldre upplever att vara hemtjänsttagare och den andra frågan är vilka sociala nätverksband som blir synliga och hur det påverkar hemtjänsttagarens känsla av ensamhet. Den slutliga frågan är hur hemtjänsttagarens känsla av ensamhet kan förstås genom social identitet. Studien har genomförts kvalitativt med fyra halvstrukturerade livsvärldsintervjuer. Studiens undersökningspersoner valdes utifrån kriterier såsom att de skulle bo själva och ha daglig hemtjänsthjälp. Ett andra kriterium var att de skulle kunna uttrycka sig muntligt. Utifrån studiens tre begrepp ensamhet, social identitet och sociala nätverksband görs en första analys av det empiriska materialet. I ett andra steg görs analys med hjälp av gerotranscendensens dimensioner och dess innebörder. Resultatet visar att de äldre uppskattar besöken de får av hemtjänstpersonalen samt att det påverkar deras upplevda känsla av ensamhet. Resultatet visar också på ett samband mellan ensamhet, social identitet och social nätverksband. Analysen av empirin utifrån gerotranscendensen visar på en positivt upplevd ensamhet och inte enbart negativ ensamhet. / The field of study is elderly home care recipient who live alone, where a study was made in how these recipients are influenced by the so-called perceived loneliness. The theoretical frameworks used in this study are social gerontology and gerotranscendence since the terminology used in the study occur in both theories, as well as we connect the theories to a social pedagogical perspective. The intention is to find a bridge between the mentioned theories. The aim of the study is to reveal and analyze loneliness as a social phenomenon for elderly recipient of home care in relation to social identity and various social ties. The first issue which the study tries to answer is how the elderly perceive to be home care recipient and a second issue is which social ties become visible and how does that affect the home care recipient´s feeling of loneliness. The final issue is how the home care recipient´s feeling of loneliness can be understood by social identity. The study has been done qualitatively with four semi-structured life-world interviews. The examined persons in the study were chosen by the criterion of that the persons should live alone and have daily home care. A second criterion was that they should be able to express themselves verbally. By the three terminologies of the study such as loneliness, social identity and social ties, an initial analysis is made of the empirical data. Furthermore, a second analysis is made with the gerotranscendence´s dimensions and its signification. The result shows that the elderly appreciate their visits by the home care staff and that it affects their perceived feeling of loneliness. The result also shows a relation between loneliness, social identity and social ties. The analysis of the empirical data by the gerotranscendence shows a positive perceived loneliness and not only negative loneliness.

Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka hur ledare beskriver de processer som uppstår in en multikulturell ledningsgrupp. Studien är designad som en fallstudie omfattande en multikulturell ledningsgrupp, med tio personer från sju olika nationaliteter. Teorier om ledarskap, multikulturalitet och gruppdynamik används för att visa på de komplexa grupp-processer som antogs kunna framträda. Forskningsfrågan som besvaras är: ”Vilka inomgruppsliga processer framträder i en multikulturell ledningsgrupp när gruppen samtalar om ledarskapet, multikulturaliteten och gruppdynamiken i den egna gruppen?” Huvudsaklig metod har varit fokusgruppmetoden. Materialet har analyserats med fenomenologisk hermeneutisk ansats. Resultatet visar tre processer som framträder: Identitetskapande, lärande och interaktion samt förhållningssätt till skillnader. Diskussionen behandlar dessa tre processer som intimt förknippade med varandra, och mynnar ut i några nycklar som kan användas för att öka förståelsen för arbete i multikulturella ledningsgrupper. / The purpose of this thesis is to study how leaders describe the processes that emerge in a multicultural management team. The study was designed as a case study of a ten person multicultural team of leaders from seven different nationalities. Theorys of leadership, multiculturality and group dynamics are used to show the complexity of the group processes that would eventually emerge. The research question that is answered is:”What in-group processes are emerging in a multicultural team of leaders, as they talk about leadership, group dynamics and multicultural issues within the group?” The method used is focus groups and the material has been analyzed with a hermeneutic and phenomenologic approach. The result shows three main processes that emerges within the group: identity building, deep learning interaction and attitude keeping to differences. The discussion treats these three processes as intimately connected to each other and some keys are suggested that can be used to increase understanding of work in multicultural teams of leaders.