Out-group
An out-group refers to a social group that an individual does not belong to, contrasting with in-groups, which include those with whom one identifies. Membership in out-groups can vary based on a range of characteristics, including ethnicity, gender, geography, and social class. This categorization influences perceptions, as individuals identified as out-group members often face negative stereotypes and are prone to stereotype threat, which can affect their performance. People tend to view out-group members as more uniform, a phenomenon known as out-group homogeneity, and are generally more critical of their behaviors compared to in-group members. Cultural context also plays a role, with collectivist societies typically placing greater emphasis on in-group versus out-group distinctions than individualistic societies. In contemporary settings, such as in US politics, these dynamics can lead to heightened tensions and social divides, particularly as political affiliations become intertwined with personal identities. Addressing prejudice against out-groups may involve reclassifying them as in-group members, fostering greater inclusivity and understanding.
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Out-group
An out-group is a group to which a person does not belong. People differentiate between the groups to which they belong (in-groups) and those to which they do not belong (out-groups). Out-group membership can be based on ethnicity, gender, geographic location, class, team membership, or any other feature people use to differentiate themselves from others.
Out-group categorization affects how people are perceived and often how they perceive themselves. For example, people categorized as out-group members are more likely to be viewed according to unfavorable stereotypes. A by-product of such categorization is stereotype threat, whereby out-group members feel pressured by the potential for a negative stereotype to be confirmed by that member's performance. Stereotypes are also perpetuated in literature. Out-group members are also seen as very similar, a phenomenon called out-group homogeneity. Many people have an in-group bias and more readily perceive negative behaviors in out-group members than in-group members. In-group members often exaggerate differences between themselves and the out-group on traits the in-group members regard as superior. People in Eastern (collectivist) societies tend to differentiate between in-groups and out-groups more than people in Western (individualistic) societies. One way to reduce prejudice toward out-group members is to recategorize them as in-group members.
An illustration of out-group and in-group dynamics at play in the United States in the twenty-first century could be seen in political contexts. Because party affiliation became increasingly tied to markers of social identity, tensions rose between members of political parties who saw themselves not only as differing on issues but as fundamentally different in identity and beliefs. Social media only exacerbated these divisions, as it led to increases in polarizing viewpoints and affirmation of in-group cohesion. Out-group designations in politics led to impediments in democratic processes and caused deep-seated social issues.
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