Social identity theory's self-esteem hypothesis: a review and some suggestions for clarification.

Journal article

Distinctions are made between global and specific, personal and social, and trait and state self-esteem, and these are used to structure a review of over 40 studies concerning social identity theory's hypothesis that (a) intergroup discrimination elevates self-esteem and (b) low self-esteem motivates discrimination. It is observed that researchers have tended to employ measures of global personal trait self-esteem in their investigations of this self-esteem hypothesis, and it is argued that measures of specific social state self-esteem are more consistent with social identity theory's assumptions. Although no convincing evidence is found for the self-esteem hypothesis in its full and unqualified form, it is argued that this is due to a lack of specificity in its formulation and it is suggested that a more qualified and specific version of the hypothesis may be more appropriate.

Authors: Rubin, M; Hewstone, M

• Journal: Personality and social psychology review : an official journal of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc
• Volume: 2
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 40-62
• Publication date: 1998-01-01
• DOI: 10.1207/s15327957pspr0201_3
• EISSN: 1532-7957
• ISSN: 1088-8683
• Language: English