For Hogg and Abrams (1988), a social identification is defined as: ‘identity contingent self- descriptions deriving from membership in social categories (nationality, sex, race, occupation, sports teams . . .)’ p. 25. Place identification would express membership of a group of people who are defined by location. If this position is taken then place identifi- cation is a type of social identification. However, in
taking this position then it could be said that the concept of place is subsumed into social identity and subsequently ignored. We would argue that the social identity approach can only account for part of the relationship between self and environment.