Self-Consciousness and Social Identity: Self-Regulation as a Group Member

Self-awareness theory characterizes group behavior as resulting from a loss of self-regulation and lowered accountability, while social identity theory characterizes group behavior as highly regulated in terms of the self-concept as a group member. Data from an experiment with 182 12–13 yr olds on the effects of intergroup similarity and goal relations (R. J. Brown and D. Abrams; see record 1987-12925-001) were reassessed in the light of new data concerning Ss' private and public self-consciousness. Ss completed a self-consciousness (SCN) scale and status and attitude conditions were manipulated. Results reveal that Ss with higher private SCN behaved more in terms of their social identity, displayed ingroup loyalty, and preserved ingroup distinctiveness, whereas Ss with higher public SCN tended to behave in a more socially desirable way.