Self And Group Identity

Self and identity are closely linked,in general,identity is an important part of the self.In Chinese multi-ethnic,multi-cultural social background to carry out the comparative study of different national college students' self and identity,in theory,to enrich the current research content in the fields of self and culture,self and identity,and construct the theory of self and identity of Chinese localization.In practice,by exploring the role of group identity in self,and its impact on the individual and intergroup relation,which can provide guidance for the improvement of intergroup relations.The present study based on the domestic existing research,drawing on abroad about the theoretical researchers of self and identity(mainly including the Tripartite Model of Self-Construal,Social Identity Theory,and Intergroup Contact Theory,and so on.),selected our country northwest multi-national area college students as the object of study is system discussed the following aspects:First,the role of group identities and identity in the self-concept has ethnic differences;Second,the salience of identity affects group identity;Third,the influence of group identity on individual psychological adaptation and intergroup relations;Fourth,the dynamic characteristics of the group identity promotes positive intergroup relations.To answer the above questions,the present study through five specific studies,used self report,questionnaire method and experimental method,selected core variables were manipulated,uses a variety of statistical methods,tested the hypothesis one by one.The empirical studies are as follows:Study 1 selected 453 Han,Tibetan,Hui and Uygur College students as the subject,tested by the measurement of WAI to obtain the concent of self concept from the different ethnic groups.Based on the Tripartite Model of Self-Construal,investigates the self-concept of the subjects from three aspects: individual,group,and relationships,analyzed the ethnic differences between self concept.Results show that the subjects' self concept in terms of the individual self,group self and relational self existed prominent ethnic differences.Further analysis showed that the group self palying an importment role in the four ethnic groups,of which the most important group identity is ethnic and national identity.Study 2 selected 85 Tibetan college students as subjects,used priming experiment,operated the salience of Tibetans subjects' individual identity and group identity,respectively,to make the individual identity or group identity prominent.Investigation under different conditions of the priming of the subjects of ethnic identity,cultural identity and perceived similarity of out-group culture whether there was a significant difference.Results show that when the group identity priminged,the score of ethnic identity and cultural identity was significantly higher than priming individual identity,and perceived cultural similarity degree is lower than that of the individual identity priming,that means the identity salience has an important influence in group identity.Study 3 On the basis of study 1 and study 2,using the method of questionnaire,selected three universities of northwest area 355 college students of ethnic minority participants(Tibetan,Hui,Uygur),focusing on the group identity in individual's psychological adaptation(self-esteem and life satisfaction)and intergroup relations(ethnic prejudice,the identity of ethnic culture and ethnic identity).Results show that there is a significant positive correlation among ethnic identity and self-esteem and life satisfaction;ethnic identity,cultural identity and national identity has a significant positive correlation,and foreign groups(Han)holding the negative stereotypes also exist positive correlation.The study results show that group identity has an important significance in the individual and group levels.Study 4 selected four northwest cities multi-ethnic mixed the 686 minority and Han nationality students as subjects,surveied the variables such as inter-ethnic contact,ethnic identity,national identity,contact attitude and so on.Discussion the dynamic characteristics of the group identity,namely group identity changes with the characteristics of different groups of contact.The results showed that the ethnic minorities contact with the Han can weaken its ethnic identity,increase the level of national identity;but the Han contact with ethnic minorities meanwhile strengthening the level of ethnic identity and national identity.Inter-group contacts accelerates contact attitude,and there is a ethnic differences exist(ethnic minority and Han).Study results indicate that group identity by the social context and social factors that influence structural factors,having dynamic characteristics.Study 5 used educational experiment,two classes(198 college students)in the northwest of a university were selected as the experimental group and the control group respectively,to investigate the effect of education intervention on intergroup relations(such as effect of education intervention on college students' ethnic identity,ethnic stereotypes,contact attitudes and other variables).The results showed that educational intervention has a positive meaning for promoting intergroup relations.its also has a significant impact for ethninc identity,national identity,cultural similarities perception,ethnic stereotypes and contact attitudes.It suggests that in national unity education,education intervention is one of the effective strategies to promote intergroup relations.Based on the results of fivr studies and the discussion,the present study come to the following four conclusions:1.In a multi-ethnic society,group identities and identity is an important part of self-concept,and has important implications for individuals.Compared with the Han nationality,ethnic identity and national identity is more important significance to minorities.2.Identity salience will enhance group identity,in practice,the promotion of inter-group relations,by weakening the group identity salience can promote positive intergroup relations.3.Group identity with social situational,will change with the social situational variation,has the dynamic characteristic.4.Education and creates the opportunity to fully contact between ethnic group is an effective strategy to improve ethnic relations.In present study,a multi-ethnic area in northwest China as the background,systematically explores the relationship between self and identity,the group identity has important significance in self-concept,and specifically examined the influence of group identity on individual psychological adaptation and intergroup relations.The study based on the comparison of minority and Han found the dynamic characteristics of the group identity,that is to pass educational intervention and inter-ethnic contacts can weaken in extremely group identity of ethnic minorities,enhance the ethnic identity of Han nationality,to further reduce the bias and increase cultural perceptual similarity.Further found that the fully contact and education can change people's cognition about ethnic minorities and Han nationality,improve the common identity(nation),helps to build a unified national identity.The result is able to expand research and self-identity in theory,in practice,it is for promote our country's national relations provide the theory basis of psychology.