Intergroup Identity Insults: A Social Identity Theory Perspective

The purpose of this article is to build a systemic theory of insult based on insights from social identity theory and theories of power. Six types of insult are described: identity, projection, divergence, relative, power, and legitimacy, and the differences among them analyzed. The processes that constitute the dynamics of insult are considered. Following this theoretical analysis, the case of insults connected with the actions of the rock group Pussy Riot in Russia are interpreted in terms of various types of insults. The article concludes with suggestions for applications of the proposed theoretical concepts to the analysis of complex conflict dynamics.