Made Dega Partha Anantavijaya

Relative Deprivation & Social Identity

Within the group process, social identity and relative deprivation are related concepts that

frequently have different effects on one another. In their papers, Smith et al. (2011) define

relative deprivation as a three-step process that concludes in a feeling of deprivation and involves

individual comparisons, cognitive appraisal, and the perception of unfairness. This theory

explores how our perceptions influence our individual and collective behavior and beliefs,

particularly in situations when we sense injustice or dissimilarity from those around us.

According to Tajfel & Turner explanation of social identity theory (as referenced in Hogg,

2016), it is based on a person's perception of their sense of belonging to particular social groups

and the feelings associated with that membership. These two theories may help to explain how a

person's conduct and self-concept are shaped by their group identity and vice versa, and how

their sense of belonging to one social group may lead them to perceive disadvantages

encountered by out-groups with different social identities. In turn, this view may stimulate group

efforts to correct perceived injustices.

These two theories could explain some events that happen, for instance, the LGBT

community. Individuals in accordance with this community have a sane self-belief, self-concept,

and of course, the sexual orientation, which shapes this social identity. Those who affiliate in the

LGBT community have a strong sense of belonging, due to the fact that they are subjected to the

same fate share feelings of solidarity and self-belonging to this group. Relative deprivation
encountered when they feel they are discriminated against from other groups, from other

members of society, how their marriage rights are taken away, and have e negative stigmas that

brought from the other group or society itself. The underrepresentation in media, politics, and the

public sector also makes them feel the lack of being acknowledged. Sharing the same social

identity as LGBT and the relative deprivation taking place, it influences them to bond and

support each other, this also explains how LGBT campaigns arise. In line to a study as explained

in Górska and Bilewicz (2015), people who identify as members of the LGBT community (the

social identity) and have high GRD (Group Relative Deprivation) support social change more

than people who have poor levels of GRD.

Reference

Górska, P., & Bilewicz, M. (2015). When “a Group in Itself” becomes “a Group for

Itself”: Overcoming Inhibitory Effects of Superordinate Categorization on LGBTQ

Individuals. Journal of Social Issues, 71(3), 554–575. https://doi.org/10.1111/josi.12128

Hogg, M. A. (2016). Social Identity Theory. In Peace psychology book series (pp. 3–17).

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-29869-6_1

Smith, H. J., Pettigrew, T. F., Pippin, G. M., & Bialosiewicz, S. (2011). Relative

deprivation. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 16(3), 203–232.

https://doi.org/10.1177/1088868311430825