What is Outgroup Bias – Causes & Examples
Published by at July 5th, 2023 , Revised On October 5, 2023
It’s normal for humans to form groups based on traits like ethnicity, religion, or gender in our diverse society. But occasionally, we end up biased against those from groups other than our own.
Outgroup bias is the term for this. It influences how we see and interact with people, and it may impact how we behave at work, at school, and even in the medical field.
Let’s understand outgroup bias in more detail.
What is Outgroup Bias?
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.
Outgroup bias frequently entails considering the outgroup members to be less desirable, less capable, or even a threat. It can cause societal divisions, prejudice, and discrimination and obstruct intergroup understanding and cooperation.
Both the terms ingroup vs outgroup bias are related. While ingroup bias focuses on favouring and positively valuing one’s group, outgroup bias involves negative attitudes and stereotypes towards members of other groups. Both biases can have significant social implications and impact interactions between different groups.
What Causes Outgroup Bias?
The emergence of outgroup bias is attributed to several variables. Here are a few major causes:
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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 a “us versus them” division where they identify more with their ingroup and perceive those who belong to other groups as outsiders or “the other.”
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Ingroup Favouritism
Another important cause is ingroup 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.
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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.
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Intergroup Conflict and Competition
Outgroup bias tends to be more pronounced when there is perceived rivalry or conflict between groups. Several things, including a lack of resources, old conflicts, irrational opposition, or power imbalances, may cause this.
Competition between groups can make people’s animosity towards the other group more pronounced as they try to advance the interests of their group.
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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 outgroup bias.
Is Outgroup Bias a Problem?
Outgroup bias is an issue because of its potential harm to individuals and society. Several factors make outgroup bias problematic, including the following:
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Prioritisation and Discrimination
Discrimination and prejudice towards members of various groups are frequently caused by outgroup bias. Based on 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.
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Stereotypes
Outgroup bias involves the usage of stereotypes, which are oversimplified and generalised views about members of a certain group. Stereotyping also involves making unfavourable judgements.
Stereotypes can cause people to be judged negatively, unfairly evaluated, and assumed to be members of a particular group without considering their distinctive traits and skills.
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Conflict and Hatred Between Groups
Discrimination against members of the minority group is a factor in these issues. It strengthens divisions and encourages a “us versus them” mentality, which prevents cooperation and understanding between various groups and can obstruct efforts to overcome common problems, collaboration, and social progress.
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Reduced Empathy and Compassion
Outgroup bias frequently results in diminished empathy and sympathy for outgroup members. There is less support for their rights and well-being as it becomes harder to comprehend and relate to their experiences.
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Inaccurate Judgments and Decision-Making
Decision-making and judgement processes can be distorted by outgroup prejudice. Outgroup members may experience unfair policies, unequal opportunities, and restricted resource access when prejudiced ideas and attitudes inform decision-making.
Examples of Outgroup Bias From Our Daily Life
An example of outgroup homogeneity bias is the tendency to perceive members of an outgroup as more similar to each other than they are while perceiving members of one’s ingroup as more diverse. The following are some examples of outgroup bias from our daily life:
Examples of Outgroup Bias in the Workplace
There are two departments in a business: marketing and finance. Most of the marketing team comprises extroverted people who excel at communication and creative problem-solving. On the other side, the Finance department comprises reserved people renowned for their analytical thinking and attention to detail.
These distinctions could lead to an outgroup bias between the Marketing and Finance departments. Employees in marketing may be more creative, extroverted, and useful to the organisation than those in finance.
This bias may cause the contributions of the Finance department to be undervalued and their suggestions to be rejected or ignored during the decision-making process. Employees in marketing may therefore be given preference for promotions, get more attention, and have better chances.
Examples of Outgroup Bias in Educational Settings
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.
It hinders the development of empathy, cultural competence, and a positive learning environment. Some more examples of outgroup bias in educational settings are:
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Student Gangs
Students sometimes establish social cliques based on common interests, backgrounds, or traits in schools and universities. These cliques can lead to outgroup bias, in which members of a specific clique think they are better than members of other groups.
This prejudice can result in exclusion, social isolation, and the creation of preconceptions about particular student groups.
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Bullying and Peer Victimisation
Bullying and peer victimisation in educational environments can be aggravated by outgroup bias.
Students who identify as members of an outgroup, such as members of racial or ethnic minorities, may experience harsh behavior and maltreatment at the hands of their classmates. For certain students, this bias can sustain a hostile and unwelcoming environment.
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Teacher Bias
Teachers may also be biased against certain groups of students. Students from marginalised or stigmatised groups could have lower expectations from them, receive less support, or have fewer prospects for academic advancement.
These children’s educational experiences and results could be significantly impacted by this bias, reinforcing existing inequities in the classroom.
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Examples of Outgroup Bias in Healthcare
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Language and Cultural Obstacles
Language and cultural obstacles can make it difficult for patients with various cultural or linguistic origins to communicate with healthcare professionals. Providers may assume or judge patients’ health beliefs, practices, or language skills, resulting in misunderstandings, poor service, and communication problems.
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Disrespectful Treatment
Patients belonging to specific outgroup populations may experience disrespectful or discriminatory treatment due to outgroup bias.
It can be dismissive behaviours, a lack of compassion, or a failure to pay attention to each patient’s needs and worries. Such prejudice damages patients’ faith in medical practitioners and may discourage them from obtaining essential treatment.
Examples of Outgroup Bias in Finance
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Networking and Access to Opportunities
In the financial sector, networking is crucial for advancing your career and finding new chances.
Restricted access to prominent circles for people not belonging to the dominant sector group can result from outgroup bias. This discrimination may limit professional advancement and obstruct fair access to resources and mentoring.
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Wage and Promotion Disparities
Inequalities in pay and advancement within the banking industry might be attributed to outgroup bias. Bias in performance reviews, the selection of high-profile projects, or access to opportunities for training and development can result in unfair outcomes for those from marginalised backgrounds, perpetuating imbalances in pay and promotion.
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.
