This Article Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Vignoles, V. L. Articles by Breakwell, G. M. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Vignoles, V. L. Articles by Breakwell, G. M. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

The Distinctiveness Principle: Identity, Meaning, and the Bounds of Cultural Relativity

Xenia Chryssochoou

Glynis M. Breakwell

Social Psychology European Research Institute, University of Surrey, Guildford, England

Extending theories of distinctiveness motivation in identity (Breakwell, 1987; Brewer, 1991; Snyder & Fromkin, 1980), we discuss the precise role of distinctiveness in identity processes and the cross-cultural generality of the distinctiveness principle. We argue that (a) within Western cultures, distinctiveness is necessaryfor the construction of meaning within identity, and (b) the distinctiveness principle is not incompatible with non-Western cultural systems. We propose a distinction among three sources of distinctiveness: position, difference, and separateness, with different implications for identity and behavior. These sources coexist within cultures, on both individual and group levels of selfrepresentation, but they may be emphasized differently according to culture and context.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. J. Hornsey and J. Jetten The Individual Within the Group: Balancing the Need to Belong With the Need to Be Different Personality and Social Psychology Review, August 1, 2004; 8(3): 248 - 264. [Abstract] [PDF]