Ingroups

An ingroup is a social group with which an individual identifies and to which they feel belonging. Members of an ingroup share a sense of shared identity, norms, and goals, and they typically see themselves as distinct from outgroups—groups regarded as different from or opposing the ingroup.

The concept is central to social identity theory (Tajfel and Turner, 1979). The theory posits that people derive part of their self-concept from group memberships, leading to preferential treatment of fellow group members, a phenomenon known as ingroup bias. Early experiments with minimal groups showed participants favored their assigned groups despite arbitrary criteria.

Across contexts, ingroup dynamics involve categorization into us versus them, trust and cooperation within the group, conformity to norms, and competition with outgroups. Identification strength influences how strongly people show loyalty or bias; higher identification is associated with stronger in-group favoritism and sometimes intergroup conflict.

Ingroup behavior is not inherently negative; it can promote solidarity and collective action, but it can also justify exclusion or discrimination of outgroups. In organizations, ingroups can form around teams, departments, or professional identities, influencing collaboration and decision making.

Researchers study ingroups using surveys of identification, experiments with controlled group assignments, and observations of intergroup interactions. Strategies to reduce harmful bias include promoting equal status, intergroup contact under favorable conditions, common goals, and institutional measures that encourage inclusive norms.