The Power of Social Categorization

This chapter attempts to develop the construct of the power of social categorization to understand and explain social inequality and social dominance. It begins with a thought experiment that sets an original position for the earliest human ancestors to highlight the pivotal role that categorization plays in the human experiential framework. After reviewing the paradigmatic landmarks in social classification research, the chapter proceeds to dismantle the institutionalization process of social categorization so as to reveal the origin of the power of social categorization, and to explore the adverse consequences of biased categorization power, especially its socio-psychological consequences. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the possible proposals for authentic categorization.