Collective Identity Theories

Francesca Poletta, James M Jasper ( Collective Identity and Social Movement)
'A collective identity may have been first constructed by outsiders who may still enforce it, but depend on some acceptance by those whom it is applied. Collective identities are expressed in cultural materials - names, narratives, symbols, verbal styles, rituals, clothing.'

• outsider isn't in the collective (e.g. British youth vs. Adults)

David Snow (Collective Identity and Expressive Form)
'Although there is no consensual definitions of collective identity, discussions of the concept invariably suggest that its essence resides in a shared sense of 'one-ness' or 'we-ness' anchored in real or imagined shared attributes and experiences among those who comprise the collectivity and in relation or contrast to one or more actual imagined sets of 'others'.

• 'One-ness' - individual, 'we-ness' - group
• certain parts of an individuals identity is similar to others, hence collective identity , shared attributes and experiences contrasts with what sets you apart from others.

Tafjal & Turner ( Social Identity Theory)
In the Social Identity Theory, a person has not one 'personal self', but rather several selves  that correspond to widening circles of group membership. Different social contexts may trigger an individual to think, feel and act on basis of his personal, family or national 'level of self'.
Apart from the 'level of self', an individual has multiple 'social identities'. Social identity is the individual's self-concept derived from perceived membership of social groups.

• Collection of selves, meaning people put on different interests depending on who you are with - several identities(one person)

Sheldon Stryker (Identity Negotiation)
We interact with others to create an identity, this is called identity negotiation. This develops a consistent set of  behaviours that reinforce the identity of the person or group. This behaviour then becomes social expectations. This is particularly relevant for collective identities (especially sub-cultures) that develop a specific way of relating to each other(attitude, language, ideas) that goes some way into helping construct our identities.

• communicate with others to create identity
• actions that the group do creates sub-cultures
• develop identity with the way you behave
• Social expectations.

Mikhail Bakhtin
The Russian philosopher Bakhtin believed that individual people cannot be finalised, completely understood, known or labelled. He saw identity as the un-finalised self meaning a person is never fully revealed or known. This ties in with the idea that identity is a fluid concept, a life-long project that is never complete. 

• People can't always be labelled with an identity as it always changes.

David Gauntlett (Media, Gender and Identity)
'It  is the case that a construction of identity has become a known requirement. Modern Western societies does not leave individuals in any doubt that they need to make choices of identity and lifestyle- even if their preferred options are rather obvious and conventional ones, or are limited due to lack of financial (or cultural) resources.

• people are pressured into making choices-modern western society does this
• Ulrich Beck - everyone wants to 'live their own life', but this is at the same time 'an experimental life'.

'Today we are bombarded with ideas about - being yourself, standing out or finding your place- we're encouraged to define our existence in terms of what to buy, do, earn money from or enjoy. Obviously finding an 'identity' is problematic especially when so many existing identities and roles are uncertain - think gender roles, career stability, upward mobility in class. so Ulrich Beck is saying that we experiment with 'identities' to see what fits, works and is comfortable'

• people experiment to find out what they like.