Social Identity Theory and protests 2538050
Social psychologists study groups and social identity. With regards to protests, they have
determined that people join them due to their strong identification with the group. The protest
that will be used to illustrate certain social psychology theories in this essay will be the
#FeesMustFall protests. Group definitions, types and formation will be discussed in relation
to this group. Social Identity theory will also be unpacked and evaluated, together with social
identity’s role in interpreting intergroup behaviour. By the end, it will be determined whether
Social Identity theory is a suitable way to understand the #FeesMustFall events or not.
To understand #FeesMustFall protests, group definitions need to be considered. This group is
considered a social group as there is interaction within it (Baron et al., 2009 as cited in
Swartz et al., 2016). The characteristics of social groups are mutual reliance and influence on
group members and interaction between them (Bordens & Horowitz, 2002, as cited in Swartz
et al., 2016). Groups can be classified into in-groups – a group one identifies with, and out-
groups - groups one does not identify with (Baron et al., 2009; Newman, 2012, as cited in
Swartz et al., 2016). Other categories include primary, secondary and reference groups -
primary groups are small, have intimate, emotional attachments, last long and play a part in
personality development (Cooley, 1956; Newman, 2012, as cited in Swartz et al., 2016).
Secondary groups are short-term, more formal and exist for practical reasons (Moghaddam,
1998; Newman, 2012, as cited in Swartz et al., 2016). Reference groups are those which
people choose to associate with and are used to guide values and behaviours (Baron et al.,
2009; Augostinos et al., 2006, as cited in Swartz et al., 2016).
The #FeesMustFall protest can be considered an in-group by people who identify with the
group’s goals to disallow university fee increases, or an out-group by people who feel the
opposite, like the government. It is also a social group as there is reliance on the leaders,
influence from them and dependence on members to show up to the marches. The secondary
group classification fits this protest as the protests lasted for approximately two years (short
compared to a family) and it existed for practical reasons - to disallow fee increases and help
the underprivileged students (Uhuru Digital, 2020).
Groups form in many ways - according to Forsyth (2010, as cited in Swartz et al., 2016),
groups have five stages. Firstly, the forming/orientation stage, where the group is initiated,
members meet each other, roles are initiated and a leader asserts themselves to drive
communication (Forsyth, 2010, as cited in Swartz et al., 2016). The 2015 SRC President,
Shaeera Kala and forthcoming President, Nompendulo Mkhatshwa, incited the
#FeesMustFall movement, students joined in, and organization begun, demonstrating
, Social Identity Theory and protests 2538050
orientation (“FeesMustFall”, 2022; eNCA, 2015).
The storming/conflict stage follows, where tension, disagreement, and inconsistent
attendance prevail (Forsyth, 2010, as cited in Swartz et al., 2016). Protesting students would
disagree on the method of demonstration – some would burn buildings where others would
not agree to that (Uhuru Digital, 2020, 35:40-40:00). The goal(s) of the protest had not been
properly established, with some students wanting no increase in fees, while others sought free
education totally (Uhuru Digital, 2020). Many students would also not attend the protests due
to fear of being hurt or expelled (Greeff et al., 2021; Uhuru Digital, 2020). This mirrors
conflict.
Next, the norming/structure stage ensues, where norms/roles are properly established, and
agreement increases (Forsyth, 2010, as cited in Swartz et al., 2016). The #FeesMustFall
protests mirror this stage, as they eventually included fixed members, who decided to follow
similar methods of demonstration and have deemed their goals to resist the government’s
increase of fees totally and to propagate free education (Uhuru Digital, 2020).
The performing/development stage follows, where the group becomes able to achieve its
goals, while collaboration and judgement intensify (Forsyth, 2010, as cited in Swartz et al.,
2016). The #FeesMustFall protestors developed methods they all agreed to - blocking roads
and entrances to universities, completely shutting it all down - to increase their bargaining
power with the state (Uhuru Digital, 2020, 1:00:00). Students from other institutions followed
suit (Mlaba, 2021; Uhuru Digital, 2020). This represents development.
Finally, the adjourning/dissolution stage arrives, where tasks are completed, roles diminish,
the group disbands, followed by usual feelings of regret (Forsyth, 2010, as cited in Swartz et
al., 2016). #FeesMustFall protests ended in 2016 by force, but the fight continued in different
forms (Uhuru Digital, 2020). Kala, as well as other students, felt regret as a result, thus
reflecting dissolution (Uhuru Digital, 2020).
Groups like protests can be understood according to Social Identity Theory, which is a
positional-level description of intergroup affairs, that declares people incorporate group
membership as part of their identity, forming a social identity (Baron et al., 2009; Mokgatle
& Schoeman, 1998 as cited in Swartz et al., 2016). This occurs as people categorize
themselves into in-groups, while simultaneously enforcing boundaries between their out-
groups (Swartz et al., 2016; Stets & Burke, 2000; Hogg & Abrams, 2003). In-group
favouritism develops naturally as a result, and this supports van Stekelenburg’s (2013) point
that people behave prominently according to group membership.
Social psychologists study groups and social identity. With regards to protests, they have
determined that people join them due to their strong identification with the group. The protest
that will be used to illustrate certain social psychology theories in this essay will be the
#FeesMustFall protests. Group definitions, types and formation will be discussed in relation
to this group. Social Identity theory will also be unpacked and evaluated, together with social
identity’s role in interpreting intergroup behaviour. By the end, it will be determined whether
Social Identity theory is a suitable way to understand the #FeesMustFall events or not.
To understand #FeesMustFall protests, group definitions need to be considered. This group is
considered a social group as there is interaction within it (Baron et al., 2009 as cited in
Swartz et al., 2016). The characteristics of social groups are mutual reliance and influence on
group members and interaction between them (Bordens & Horowitz, 2002, as cited in Swartz
et al., 2016). Groups can be classified into in-groups – a group one identifies with, and out-
groups - groups one does not identify with (Baron et al., 2009; Newman, 2012, as cited in
Swartz et al., 2016). Other categories include primary, secondary and reference groups -
primary groups are small, have intimate, emotional attachments, last long and play a part in
personality development (Cooley, 1956; Newman, 2012, as cited in Swartz et al., 2016).
Secondary groups are short-term, more formal and exist for practical reasons (Moghaddam,
1998; Newman, 2012, as cited in Swartz et al., 2016). Reference groups are those which
people choose to associate with and are used to guide values and behaviours (Baron et al.,
2009; Augostinos et al., 2006, as cited in Swartz et al., 2016).
The #FeesMustFall protest can be considered an in-group by people who identify with the
group’s goals to disallow university fee increases, or an out-group by people who feel the
opposite, like the government. It is also a social group as there is reliance on the leaders,
influence from them and dependence on members to show up to the marches. The secondary
group classification fits this protest as the protests lasted for approximately two years (short
compared to a family) and it existed for practical reasons - to disallow fee increases and help
the underprivileged students (Uhuru Digital, 2020).
Groups form in many ways - according to Forsyth (2010, as cited in Swartz et al., 2016),
groups have five stages. Firstly, the forming/orientation stage, where the group is initiated,
members meet each other, roles are initiated and a leader asserts themselves to drive
communication (Forsyth, 2010, as cited in Swartz et al., 2016). The 2015 SRC President,
Shaeera Kala and forthcoming President, Nompendulo Mkhatshwa, incited the
#FeesMustFall movement, students joined in, and organization begun, demonstrating
, Social Identity Theory and protests 2538050
orientation (“FeesMustFall”, 2022; eNCA, 2015).
The storming/conflict stage follows, where tension, disagreement, and inconsistent
attendance prevail (Forsyth, 2010, as cited in Swartz et al., 2016). Protesting students would
disagree on the method of demonstration – some would burn buildings where others would
not agree to that (Uhuru Digital, 2020, 35:40-40:00). The goal(s) of the protest had not been
properly established, with some students wanting no increase in fees, while others sought free
education totally (Uhuru Digital, 2020). Many students would also not attend the protests due
to fear of being hurt or expelled (Greeff et al., 2021; Uhuru Digital, 2020). This mirrors
conflict.
Next, the norming/structure stage ensues, where norms/roles are properly established, and
agreement increases (Forsyth, 2010, as cited in Swartz et al., 2016). The #FeesMustFall
protests mirror this stage, as they eventually included fixed members, who decided to follow
similar methods of demonstration and have deemed their goals to resist the government’s
increase of fees totally and to propagate free education (Uhuru Digital, 2020).
The performing/development stage follows, where the group becomes able to achieve its
goals, while collaboration and judgement intensify (Forsyth, 2010, as cited in Swartz et al.,
2016). The #FeesMustFall protestors developed methods they all agreed to - blocking roads
and entrances to universities, completely shutting it all down - to increase their bargaining
power with the state (Uhuru Digital, 2020, 1:00:00). Students from other institutions followed
suit (Mlaba, 2021; Uhuru Digital, 2020). This represents development.
Finally, the adjourning/dissolution stage arrives, where tasks are completed, roles diminish,
the group disbands, followed by usual feelings of regret (Forsyth, 2010, as cited in Swartz et
al., 2016). #FeesMustFall protests ended in 2016 by force, but the fight continued in different
forms (Uhuru Digital, 2020). Kala, as well as other students, felt regret as a result, thus
reflecting dissolution (Uhuru Digital, 2020).
Groups like protests can be understood according to Social Identity Theory, which is a
positional-level description of intergroup affairs, that declares people incorporate group
membership as part of their identity, forming a social identity (Baron et al., 2009; Mokgatle
& Schoeman, 1998 as cited in Swartz et al., 2016). This occurs as people categorize
themselves into in-groups, while simultaneously enforcing boundaries between their out-
groups (Swartz et al., 2016; Stets & Burke, 2000; Hogg & Abrams, 2003). In-group
favouritism develops naturally as a result, and this supports van Stekelenburg’s (2013) point
that people behave prominently according to group membership.
