John C Turner's Social Identity Theory

The social hierarchy does not provide a way for those on the bottom to escape the bottom. They remain at the lowest of the low purely because there is profit to be made from the suffering of the inferior. The psychologist John C Turner examined the consistency of one’s identity in a group and its inability to change:
“It is the awareness of the existence of categories which generates the in-group response, not necessarily past hostility nor objective conflict. Identity within a group is either secure and of lasting nature with change not likely, or insecure and subject to change. Data are cited to indicate that psychological distinctiveness may be enhanced to bolster high status, insecure, group identification. Low status identity, which cannot …show more content…
He generally examined one’s constant position in the group. After an individual is settled into a group’s hierarchy based on his/her security or insecurity, they tend to remain in this spot. The superior remain on top while the inferior submit to their lesser position. The inferior’s struggle to attain a higher position only generates profit for those on top rather than for himself/herself. Based on Turner’s Social Categorisation Theory, the conclusion can be made that an individual can not escape his/her previous social …show more content…
This food chain effect leads to the further schism between those who can defend themselves and the defenseless. These social hierarchies can further be examined in groups. In these groups, the individuals tend to remain where their initial social identity established them. Both the social food chain and the social hierarchy lead to the superior profiting from other changing themselves to obtain approval, the cost of existence, and the impossibility to rise in the hierarchy. As the lesser continually change themselves to achieve this acceptance, they lose any sense of