Key Theorists and the London Riots

Henri Tajfel- Social Identity Theory

Social identity theory assumes that individuals strive to improve there self image by trying to enhance self esteem, based on either personal identity or various social identities.Tajfel proposed that the groups (e.g. social class, family, football team etc.) which people belonged to were an important source of pride and self-esteem these groups give us a sense of social identity and by having these groups we split ourselves into 'them and 'us'.Tajfel argues that there is a distinct difference between these 'in-groups' and 'out-groups', this developed in 'in-group' favouritism and 'out-group' discrimination social identity theory states that the in-group will discriminate against the out-group to enhance their self-image and in order to increase our own self image we enhance the image of our own group.

The way the media presented youth according to Tajfel's theory are that of an 'out-group' the media came down hard on the youths who were seen to be a part of the riots and in doing so lowered the status of youths by using negative media coverage which allowed adults and the government to enhance their own self image becoming the more powerful 'in-group'.