Gillespie, Alex (2007) Collapsing self/other positions: identification through differentiation. British Journal of Social Psychology, 46 (3). pp. 579-595. ISSN 0144-6665
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Abstract
There is a widely recognized tendency for people to positively differentiate Self from Other. The present paper asks: What counter dynamic constrains this othering tendency? A phenomenon, termed identification through differentiation is presented in which the positive differentiation of Self from Other collapses in a moment of identification. This phenomenon is demonstrated and explored using quasi-naturalistic group discussions with tourists in India. Three excerpts are analysed. The first demonstrates a tourist's attempt to positively differentiate him from other tourists. The second demonstrates how such an effort can collapse in a moment of identification with the previously derogated ‘other’ tourists. The third is used to explore how issues of self-presentation complicate identification through differentiation. The discussion uses concepts from Mead (1934) and Ichheiser (1949) in order to theorize about the preconditions, interactional mechanisms and wider applicability of the phenomenon.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Official URL: | http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/%28... |
| Additional Information: | © 2007 The British Psychological Society |
| Library of Congress subject classification: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology |
| Sets: | Departments > Social Psychology Departments > Psychological and Behavioural Science |
| Date Deposited: | 11 Oct 2011 10:57 |
| URL: | http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/38688/ |
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