> Does it matter that we're so cut off from the mainstream? >> I personally wouldn't have it any other way, but then again my >income doe= >> sn't rely on it.
All this is reminding me of some theories which I came across in the distant past ... "Social identity theories – Tajfel and Turner, among others, have taken great interest in what happens to an individual’s self-perception when becoming a member of a group. The theory of social identity was developed by Tajfel (1981) and Tajfel and Turner (1979), and accoutns for ETHNOCENTRISM in the MINIMAL GROUP paradigm. On assignation to a group, people appear automatically to think of that group as better for them than any alternative outgroup. This is because they are motivated to keep a positive self-image. This self-image has two component parts: personal identity and social identity (the number of social identities one person may have has no theoretical limit). Any action or cognition which elevates the social identity will therefore tend to elevate also the self-image" Plus here's a link for elaboration, esp. on ethnocentrism/minimal group paradigm (a term which I especially like - but not for the correct theoretical reasons! :-) http://www.psybox.com/web_dictionary/Socialidentity.htm Bollocks isn't it? Ah well, at least you're ten minutes closer to home time! k
