Editing Group polarization (section)

===Self-categorization and social identity===
While these two theories are the most widely accepted as explanations for group polarization, alternative theories have been proposed. The most popular of these theories is [[self-categorization theory]]. Self-categorization theory stems from [[social identity theory]], which holds that conformity stems from psychological processes; that is, being a member of a group is defined as the subjective perception of the self as a member of a specific category.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Abrams|first=D. |author2=M. Wetherell |author3=S. Cochrane |author4=M.A. Hogg |author5=J.C. Turner|title=Knowing what to think by knowing who you are: Self-categorization and the nature of norm formation, conformity and group polarization|journal=British Journal of Social Psychology|year=1990|volume=29|pages=97–119|doi=10.1111/j.2044-8309.1990.tb00892.x|pmid=2372667|issue=2|doi-access=free}}</ref> Accordingly, proponents of the self-categorization model hold that group polarization occurs because individuals identify with a particular group and conform to a prototypical group position that is more extreme than the group mean. In contrast to social comparison theory and persuasive argumentation theory, the self-categorization model maintains that inter-group categorization processes are the cause of group polarization <ref name="Hogg1990">{{cite journal|last=Hogg|first=M.A. |author2=Turner, J.C. |author3=Davidson, B.|title=Polarized norms and social frames of reference: A test of the self-categorization theory of group polarization|journal=Basic and Applied Social Psychology|year=1990|pages=77–100|doi=10.1207/s15324834basp1101_6|volume=11}}</ref>

Support for the [[self-categorization theory]], which explains group polarization as conformity to a polarized norm, was found by Hogg, Turner, and Davidson in 1990. In their experiment, participants gave pre-test, post-test, and group consensus recommendations on three choice dilemma item-types (risky, neutral, or cautious). The researchers hypothesized that an [[ingroup]] confronted by a risky outgroup will polarize toward caution, an ingroup confronted by a caution outgroup will polarize toward risk, and an ingroup in the middle of the social frame of reference, confronted by both risky and cautious outgroups, will not polarize but will converge on its pre-test mean.<ref name="Hogg1990" /> The results of the study supported their hypothesis in that participants converged on a norm polarized toward risk on risky items and toward caution on cautious items.<ref name="Hogg1990" /> Another similar study found that in-group prototypes become more polarized as the group becomes more extreme in the social context.<ref>{{cite journal|last=McGarty|first=Craig|author2=John C. Turner, Michael A., Barbara David|title=Group polarization as conformity to the prototypical group member|journal=British Journal of Social Psychology|date=March 1992|volume=31|pages=1–19|doi=10.1111/j.2044-8309.1992.tb00952.x|display-authors=etal}}</ref> This further lends support to the self-categorization explanation of group polarization.