What concept explains prejudice and discrimination according to Tajfel?

The concept that Tajfel introduced, which best explains prejudice and discrimination, is centered around the process of mere categorization leading to ingroup bias. This phenomenon occurs when individuals categorize themselves and others into distinct social groups, often based on trivial features. Once these categories are established, people tend to show favoritism towards their own group (the ingroup) and display bias against those who belong to an outgroup.

This bias emerges primarily because individuals derive part of their self-concept and self-esteem from their membership in social groups. Thus, when individuals view their ingroup positively, it not only enhances their self-identity but also often leads to negative perceptions or discrimination against the outgroup. The research conducted by Tajfel, particularly in the minimal group paradigm, demonstrates how simply being assigned to a group can lead individuals to display loyalty to their ingroup and engage in discriminatory behaviors towards the outgroup, even if the categorization has no real significance.

The other concepts, while related to social dynamics and identity, do not encapsulate the core mechanism by which Tajfel explained the emergence of prejudice and discrimination as clearly as the idea of mere categorization leading to ingroup bias.