ss of content" (Abrams & Hogg, 1994, p. 3). As self-concept is closely associated with the theory of social identity, a question arises as to the potential for self-awareness to affect social identity (Abrams, 1994). Self-awareness theory is concerned with the ways through which individuals control and direct their behavior. Within a sociological context, the relationship between self-awareness and social identity is perceived as a realization by an individual of variations between their own self-image and the ideal self-image associated with a salient reference group, and a response by an individual to such a realization (Abrams, 1994). Within the context of cognitive psychology, the self-awareness/social identity relationship is described in "terms of control theory, in which negative feedback loops operate to enable individuals to match their behaviour to particular standards" (Abrams, 1994, pp. 90-91). In essence,
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