Key Concept 3: In-groups and out-groups

Question 1

What is Social Categorisation?

Answer 1

We do not view people as unique, instead we group people together and make assumptions about them based on social categories such as appearance but could be based on any other characteristic (gender, ethnicity, age etc.) We perceive people within the same category to share similiar characteristics and be different to those from other social groups.

Question 2

In-groups

Answer 2

Social groups we see ourselves as belonging to. We think we are similar to the people within these social categories and believe we ‘belong’ to this group.

Question 3

Out-groups

Answer 3

Social groups we do not see ourselves belonging to. We see people within this group as being different to ourselves.

Question 4

Stereotypes

Answer 4

Fixed expectations we have about someone based on their social categories for example, old people are slow, young people are rude etc. Stereotypes are formed through social categorisation, we also tend to stereotype those that belong to our ‘out-groups’.

An example would be a young boy who identifies that he is a member of the social category of male. He spends more time with other males, other males are his in-group and females are his out-group. Because he does not spend much time with members of the out-group, he develops and maintains stereotypical views about them.

Question 5

Prejudice

Answer 5

A negative attitude towards an individual because they belong to a certain social group. Having assumptions about them based on their social category for example, women are bad at Maths.

Question 6

Discrimination

Answer 6

Harmful behaviour towards an individual or group because of their characteristics for example, not giving a woman a promotion because you presume men would be better at it.