in-group

Meaning: An in-group is a group in which a person feels membership, loyalty, and shared identity. An out-group is a group the person does not belong to, and it is often seen as a rival. The terms are relative to the person's point of view. Social identity theory proposes that part of self-esteem comes from group membership. As a result, people tend to show in-group bias (favoring their own group) and the out-group homogeneity effect (seeing out-group members as more alike than in-group members).

On the MCAT: Passages describe favoritism toward a team, clique, or ethnic group. They may also describe minimal-group studies, where people are sorted by a trivial criterion and still favor their own group (Tajfel). Sherif's Robbers Cave study is another common setup. Competition between two camp groups increased hostility, and shared superordinate goals reduced it. Questions ask you to name the in-group and out-group, predict favoritism, or link the idea to prejudice, stereotyping, or ethnocentrism.

Common confusion: An in-group is not the same as a primary group or a reference group. A primary group is small, intimate, and long-lasting, such as a family. An in-group can be large and impersonal, such as a nation or a fan base. A reference group is a standard for self-comparison and can be one you do not belong to.