Personality
143 words, ~1 minute read. Planted .
I think personality is best explained with a combination of Social Identity Theory and Self Categorization Theory
- Social Identity Theory
- Posits that significant amount of our personality is derived from our membership in various social groups
- People categorize themselves and others into groups based on nationality, gender, profession, interests, etc.
- The groups one feels they most identity with end up shaping one's behaviors
- Also leads to discrimination and out-group homogeneity
- Self Categorization Theory
- People act in ways that they perceive as typical for the members of the group they identify with
- Can lead to viewing oneself as an embodiment of the group prototype rather than a unique individual
- I believe people adopt core identities and then subconsciously use their perception of how people with those identities as a mnemonic for how they should behave
- Gender Performativity maps cleanly onto these theories