Social Identity and the Northern Ireland Conflict

Abstract

A series of experimental studies examined various identity polarities (Catholic/Protestant, Irish/British, and nationalist/unionist) relevant to the majority and minority communities in Northern Ireland. Subjects allocated themselves to one group within a polarity and awarded points on a series of matrices to anonymous others identified solely on the basis of group membership. Results suggested that the Catholic and nationalist identities had a similar impact for minority group members over time, whereas the Protestant and unionist identities had a differential impact for majority group members over time. This latter effect was related to the context implied by the identity label. Qualitative data gathered from interviews with political activists suggested some continuities with the experimental data. Political activists from minority group parties adhered to a single identity label, but offered competing meanings for that label. By contrast, activists from majority group parties adhered to competing identity labels which could be related to different contexts for that group. The paper emphasizes the dynamic nature of identity and argues for an eclectic use of theory and method in the analysis of social conflict.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

ANDERSON, B. Imagined communities: Reflections on the origin and spread of nationalism. London: Verso , 1983.

BILLIG, M. Social psychology and intergroup relations. London: Academic Press , 1976.

BILLIG, M. Fascists: A social psychological view of the National Front. London: Harcourt Brace Jovanich , 1978.

BILLIG, M. Prejudice, categorization and particularization: From a perceptual to a rhetorical approach . European Journal of Social Psychology, 1985, 15, 79-103 .

BILLIG, M. Arguing and thinking: A rhetorical approach to social psychology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press , 1987.

BLEASE, M. Maladjusted school children in a Belfast centre. In J. Harbison (Ed.), Children of the troubles. Belfast: Stranmillis College , 1983.

BORNSTEIN, F. , CRUM, L. , WITTENBRAKER, J. , HARRING, K. , INSKO, C. A. , & THIBAUT, J. On the measurement of social orientations in the Minimal Group Paradigm . Eurepan Journal of Social Psychology, 1983, 13, 321-350 . (a)

BORNSTEIN, F. , CRUM, L. , WITTENBRAKER, J. , HARRING, K. , INSKO, C. A. , & THIBAUT, J. Reply to Turner's comments . European Journal of Social Psychology, 1983, 13, 369-381 . (b)

BOULTON, D. The UVF, 1966-73: An anatomy of Loyalist rebellion. Dublin: Torc Books , 1973.

10.

BRANTHWAITE, A. , & JONES, J. E. Fairness and discrimination: English vs. Welsh . European Journal of Social Psychology, 1975, 5, 323-338 .

11.

BURTON, F. The politics of legitimacy: Struggles in a Belfast community. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul , 1978.

12.

CAIRNS, E. Intergroup conflict in Northern Ireland. In H. Tajfel (Ed.), Social identity and intergroup relations. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press , 1982.

13.

CAIRNS, E. Caught in crossfire: Children and the Northern Ireland conflict. Belfast: Appletree Press , 1987.

14.

COMMINS, B. , & LOCKWOOD, J. The effects on intergroup relations of mixing Roman Catholics and Protestants: An experimental investigation . European Journal of Social Psychology, 1978, 8, 383-386 .

15.

DONNAN, H. , & McFARLANE, G. Informal social organizations. In J. Darby (Ed.), Northern Ireland: The background to the conflict. Belfast: Appletree Press , 1983.

16.

FARRELL, M. Northern Ireland: The orange state. London: Pluto Press , 1980.

17.

FIELDS, R. A society on the run: A psychology of Northern Ireland. Harmondsworth: Penguin , 1973.

18.

FIELDS, R. Society under seige: A psychology of Northern Ireland. London: Temple University Press , 1977.

19.

FLACKES, W. D. Northern Ireland: A political directory. Dublin: Gill and MacMillan , 1980.

20.

FRASER, R. M. Children in conflict. Harmondsworth: Penguin , 1974.

21.

GALLAGHER, A. M. Identity and ideology in Northern Ireland: A psychological perspective . Irish Review, 1988, 4, 7-14 .

22.

GALLAGHER, A. M. Religious and political identity in Northern Ireland. In M. Billig (Ed.), Identity and ideology: Towards a new social psychology. London: Sage. Forthcoming .

23.

HARBISON, J. (Ed.). Children of the troubles. Belfast: Stranmillis College , 1983.

24.

HARBISON, J. , & HARBISON, J. (Eds.). A society under stress: Children and young people in Northern Ireland. England: Open Books . 1980.

25.

HARRIS, R. Prejudice and tolerance in Ulster. Manchester: Manchester University Press , 1972.

26.

LACLAU, E. Politics and ideology in Marxist theory. London: New Left Books , 1977.

27.

McAULEY, R. , & TROY, M. The impact of urban conflict and violence on children referred to a child psychiatry clinic. In J. Harbison (Ed.), Children of the troubles. Belfast: Stranmillis College , 1983.

28.

McWHIRTER, L. Looking back and looking forward: An inside perspective. In J. Harbison (Ed.), Children of the troubles. Belfast: Stranmillis College , 1983.

29.

OAKES, P. J. , & TURNER, J.

Social categorization and intergroup behaviour: Does minimal intergroup discrimination make social identity more positive?

European Journal of Social Psychology, 1980, 10, 295-301 .

30.

O'MALLEY, P. The uncivil wars: Ireland today. Belfast: Blackstaff Press , 1983.

31.

POTTER, J. , & WETHERELL, M. Discourse and social psychology: Beyond attitudes and behaviour. London: Sage , 1987.

32.

SHEEHY, J. , & MOTT, G. The rediscovery of Ireland's past: The Celtic revival 1830-1930. London: Thames and Hudson , 1980.

33.

TAJFEL, H. (Ed.). Differentiation between social groups. London: Academic Press , 1978.

34.

TAJFEL, H. Human groups and social categories. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press , 1981.

35.

TAJFEL, H. (Ed.). Social identity and intergroup relations. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press , 1982.

36.

TAJFEL, H. (Ed.). The social dimension (Vol 1). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press , 1984. (a)

37.

TAJFEL, H. (Ed.). The social dimension (Vol. 2). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press , 1984. (b)

38.

TAJFEL, H. , FLAMENT, C. , BILLIG, M. , & BUNDY, R. P. Social categorization and intergroup behaviour . European Journal of Social Psychology, 1971, 1, 149-178 .

39.

TEAGUE, P. Beyond the rhetoric: Politics, the economy and social policy in Northern Ireland. London: Lawrence and Wishart , 1987.

40.

TURNER, J. Social categorization and social discrimination in the minimal group paradigm. In H. Tajfel (Ed.), Differentiation between social groups. London: Academic Press , 1978.

41.

TURNER, J. Some comments on... the measurement of social orientations in the minimal group paradigm . European Journal of Social Psychology, 1983, 13, 351-368 . (a)

42.

TURNER, J. A Second reply to Bornstein et al. on the measurement of social orientations . European Journal of Social Psychology, 1983, 13, 383-388 . (b)

43.

TURNER, J. , HOGG, M. A. , OAKES, P. J., REICHER, S. D. , & WETHERELL, M. Rediscovering the social group: A self-categorisation theory. Oxford: Basil Blackwell , 1987.

44.

ULSTER POLITICAL RESEARCH GROUP . Common sense. Belfast: Uslter Political Research Group , 1986.