In psychology, outgroup bias is defined as a cognitive and social bias in which individuals evaluate and treat members of other groups less favourably than members of their own group.
It is closely linked to social identity theory, which suggests that people derive self-esteem from group membership and therefore protect their ingroup by devaluing outgroups.
EXAMPLE
Imagine a company where employees are divided into “management” and “floor staff”. Even when both groups work equally hard, managers assume floor staff are less committed or less capable, while floor staff may view managers as arrogant and disconnected.
These assumptions exist before any real interaction, purely because of group labels. This is how outgroup bias works.
In our increasingly diverse world, outgroup bias shapes how we think, decide, and interact, often without us even realising it.
This blog explores what outgroup bias is, why it happens, its consequences, and how we can reduce its impact.
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What is Outgroup Bias?
Outgroup bias is a cognitive bias that is the tendency of people to have unfavourable attitudes, stereotypes, or discriminatory behaviours towards members of groups they see as distinct from their own. In simple terms, it’s the mindset of “us versus them”.
People may see members of the other groups as less intelligent, less trustworthy, dangerous, or socially inferior, even when there is no rational basis for such beliefs.
Outgroup bias often leads to:
- Prejudice
- Discrimination
- Social exclusion
- Intergroup conflict
It appears in contexts such as race, religion, nationality, gender, profession, political affiliation, sports teams, or even school groups.
Imagine two students from rival universities working on a joint project. Even before collaborating, each assumes the other’s group is less capable, not because of evidence, but simply because they belong to a different group. This is outgroup bias in action.
Outgroup vs Ingroup Bias
Both these biases are closely related but work in opposite directions. Here are the key differences between outgroup and ingroup bias:
| Outgroup Bias | Ingroup Bias |
|---|---|
| Negative attitudes toward people outside your group | Favourable attitudes toward people inside your group |
| Focuses on differences | Focuses on similarities |
| Leads to exclusion and discrimination | Leads to favouritism and loyalty |
| Example: “They are not like us” |
Example: “They are one of us” |
What Causes Outgroup Bias?
Here are a few major causes of outgroup bias:
1. Social categorisation
Humans naturally divide people into groups based on traits like race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, or social class. This classification may cause people to see an “us versus them” division, in which they identify more with their ingroup and perceive those who belong to other groups as outsiders or “the other”.
2. Ingroup favouritism
Another important cause is ingroup bias or favouritism. People naturally favour those in their group (the ingroup) over those in other groups (the outgroup). This discrimination may be motivated by feelings of allegiance, self-identity, or a need to defend and advance one’s community.
Favouritism towards the ingroup can lead to unfavourable attitudes and actions towards the outgroup.
3. Stereotyping and discrimination
Stereotyping is when group members are given special treatment because of their affiliation with that group. Prejudice is the term for predetermined, unfavourable attitudes or ideas held towards certain people or groups because of their affiliation with those organisations.
4. Intergroup conflict and competition
Outgroup bias tends to be more pronounced when there is perceived rivalry or conflict between groups. Several factors, including resource constraints, old conflicts, irrational opposition, or power imbalances, may cause this.
Competition between groups can make animosity towards the other group more pronounced as people try to advance their own group’s interests.
5. Cultural and societal Influences
Cultural norms, values, and socialisation significantly influence outgroup-related attitudes and behaviour. Cultural narratives, historical events, media portrayals, and social conventions reinforce stereotypes, prejudices, and out-group bias.
What are the key causes of outgroup bias?
The key causes of out-group bias are social categorisation, ingroup favouritism, stereotyping, discrimination, intergroup conflict and competition, cultural and societal influences.
Why is Outgroup Bias a Problem?
Outgroup bias harms both individuals and society in serious ways, such as:
Prioritisation and discrimination
Discrimination and prejudice towards members of various groups are frequently caused by out-group bias.
Disparities between groups, including racial, ethnic, religious, or national origin, may lead to unfair treatment, social exclusion, or even violence. It worsens social cohesiveness and maintains inequality.
Stereotypes
Outgroup bias involves the usage of stereotypes, which are oversimplified and generalised views about members of a certain group. Stereotyping also consists of making unfavourable judgements.
Stereotypes can lead to negative judgments, unfair evaluations, and assumptions that people are members of a particular group without considering their distinctive traits and skills.
Conflict and hatred between groups
Discrimination against members of the minority group is a factor in these issues. It strengthens divisions and encourages an “us versus them” mentality, which prevents cooperation and understanding among various groups and can obstruct efforts to overcome common problems, collaboration, and social progress.
Reduced empathy and compassion
Outgroup bias often leads to reduced empathy and sympathy toward outgroup members. There is less support for their rights and well-being as it becomes harder to comprehend and relate to their experiences.
Inaccurate judgments and decision-making
Decision-making and judgment processes can be affected by out-group prejudice. Outgroup members may experience unfair policies, unequal opportunities, and restricted access to resources when prejudiced ideas and attitudes inform decision-making.
How does outgroup bias affect us in real life?
- It leads to prioritisation and discrimination
- It causes the formation of stereotypes
- It enables conflict and hatred between groups
- It causes reduced empathy and compassion
- It results in inaccurate judgments and decision-making
Examples of Outgroup Bias
Let’s look at different examples to understand how it works in our lives:
Example 1: Daily Life
Our day-to-day actions are full of examples reflecting the effect of out-group bias on our psychology. We usually buy the clothes worn by members of our group, not by others, like buying a suit, because most of the people from our social class do so.
“Choosing a Restaurant”
A person who is a member of the elite class of society doesn’t prefer to buy food from street vendors but instead goes to a fine-dining restaurant. He does so. After all, he doesn’t want to mingle with people of the lower class and share the same space with common people, because he dislikes people who don’t belong to his group.
So we choose a restaurant to eat at, mostly not because of the taste but because we want to feel privileged.
Example 2: Education
People from Asian countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, etc, become the victims of outgroup bias while making decisions about the education of their children. They prefer to educate their children in institutions that only cater to their class so that their children don’t have to mingle with people from other groups.
“Choosing School”
At the time of the children’s admission to the school, parents try to get their children admitted to the schools of their class, like people from the elite class get their children admitted to the schools of the elite class, not only because of the quality of education. But mainly because of the hatred towards the lower classes of society.
Example 3: Healthcare
If a person gets sick, he prefers to go to the hospital where he knows the people from his group come. People do so because of their bias towards people or things associated with them.
“Choosing Hospital”
If a billionaire gets sick, he prefers a hospital that primarily treats business tycoons so he feels privileged and receives the premium treatment his group members get. He can go to any public hospital, but he can’t because he dislikes people from other groups.
Example 4: Finance
Outgroup bias leads to wage disparities between employees in the same positions but from different groups. It also restricts access to more opportunities for financial success by segregating between kinds of people.
“Deciding Wages”
A company has hired two people for the same position, but with different wage scales. One is from the black group, and the other is from the white group.
Suppose the person hiring is from the white group. In that case, he will offer more benefits and opportunities to the employees in his group and show a discriminatory attitude towards employees from the out-group due to out-group bias.
How to Reduce Outgroup Bias?
Here is how you can reduce outgroup bias effectively:
- Increase awareness → Recognising that everyone has biases is the first step.
- Encourage intergroup contact → Positive interactions with diverse groups reduce prejudice.
- Perspective-taking → Actively try to understand others’ experiences and viewpoints.
- Challenge stereotypes → Question assumptions when they arise.
- Promote shared goals → Working together toward common objectives unites groups.
- Education and diversity training → Learning about cultures and histories fosters empathy.
- Slow down judgment → Avoid snap decisions based on group labels.
Why does understanding outgroup bias matter?
In a globalised world, collaboration across cultures is essential.
Unchecked outgroup bias:
- Weakens teamwork
- Damages organisations
- Fuels social conflict
- Limits innovation
Understanding this bias helps build more inclusive workplaces, schools, and communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
The tendency of people to have unfavourable attitudes, stereotypes, or discriminatory behaviours towards members of groups they see as distinct from their own, is known as outgroup bias or outgroup discrimination.
Cognitive processes like social identity formation, intergroup rivalry and conflicts, a lack of exposure to different viewpoints, cultural or societal norms reinforcing stereotypes, and individual differences in attitudes and beliefs can all contribute to outgroup bias.
Yes, outgroup bias is an issue because of its potential harm to individuals and society.
Outgroup bias in educational institutes can lead to social exclusion, reduced academic performance due to stereotype threat, unequal distribution of resources, limited interactions between students from different backgrounds, and discriminatory treatment.
Ingroup bias favours one’s own group, while outgroup bias involves negative attitudes toward other groups. Both work together to reinforce social divisions.
The outgroup bias can be reduced by increasing awareness, encouraging intergroup contact, challenging stereotypes, practising empathy, and promoting shared goals and inclusive education.
