Ingroup Bias: Favoring Those Who Are Like Us

12 February 2026

Have you ever noticed how people often stick with those who are similar to them? Whether it’s rooting for your hometown sports team, feeling proud of your cultural roots, or just clicking better with coworkers who share your sense of humor — we naturally lean toward those who feel like “us.” That’s ingroup bias in action.

Ingroup bias isn’t always a bad thing, but it can lead to some serious consequences — especially when it turns into unfairness, discrimination, or blind loyalty. So, let’s dive deep into this fascinating psychological phenomenon. We’ll break it down, look at where it comes from, how it shows up in our lives, and what we can do to recognize and manage it.

What Is Ingroup Bias?

Ingroup bias is exactly what it sounds like — favoring people in your own group over those outside of it.

In psychology, an “ingroup” is simply any group you identify with. That could be your family, your race, your religion, your political party, your favorite sports team — you name it. Anybody not belonging to your group is part of the “outgroup.”

Now here’s where it gets interesting: once we recognize that someone is part of our group, we often see them through rose-colored glasses. They’re smarter, kinder, more trustworthy… even if we just met them five minutes ago. On the flip side, people in the outgroup get judged more harshly, misunderstood, or even ignored.

A Simple Example to Make It Clear

Let’s say you’re at a conference and you meet someone who grew up in the same town you did. Instantly, there's a connection. You trust them more, maybe even want to work with them. Meanwhile, someone else with the same qualifications but from a different background doesn't spark that same reaction.

Nothing personal — that’s just ingroup bias being sneaky.

Where Does Ingroup Bias Come From?

You might wonder, why does this even happen? Why not treat everyone the same?

Well, ingroup bias is deeply rooted in evolution. Back in the day, our ancestors had to rely on their tribe to survive. Strangers could be threats. Trusting your group and being wary of outsiders increased your chances of living another day.

Fast forward to modern times, and while we might not be fending off enemy tribes, our brains are still wired to sort people into “us” and “them.” It’s a mental shortcut — called a heuristic — that helps us make quick judgments.

Let’s be honest: our brains love shortcuts. They save energy. But sometimes, they lead us down a biased path.

Social Identity Theory: The Science Behind It

To understand ingroup bias more deeply, we need to talk about Social Identity Theory.

This theory, developed by Henri Tajfel, explains that part of our self-esteem comes from the groups we belong to. Think about how proud people feel when their country wins a medal at the Olympics, even if they had nothing to do with it. That’s social identity at work.

We boost our self-image by:
1. Belonging to groups,
2. Comparing our groups favorably to others, and
3. Distancing ourselves from groups we see as “lesser.”

It’s all about feeling good about ourselves — even if it means unfairly downplaying others.

How Ingroup Bias Shows Up in Everyday Life

Ingroup bias isn’t just something psychologists talk about in studies. It’s everywhere — subtly shaping our opinions, relationships, and choices.

1. Workplace Favoritism

Managers may give better evaluations to employees who share their background or interests — even unintentionally. Ever heard of “culture fit”? Sometimes, it’s just code for “you’re like me.”

2. Hiring Discrimination

Applicants with “foreign-sounding” names often have a harder time getting interviews. It’s not always conscious, but it’s real. We naturally gravitate toward people who remind us of ourselves.

3. School and Education

Teachers might expect more from students who share their ethnicity or socioeconomic background. That expectation affects student performance — a phenomenon called the Pygmalion effect.

4. Friendships and Social Circles

Most of us form friendships with people from similar backgrounds. That’s normal. But it can limit our exposure to different perspectives and reinforce stereotypes.

5. Healthcare Disparities

Studies show that doctors sometimes provide different treatments based on a patient’s race or gender — often without even realizing it.

The Dark Side of Ingroup Bias

Favoring your own group doesn’t sound so harmful at first. But let’s be real: ingroup bias can fuel prejudice, racism, sexism, tribalism, and even violence.

When we see outsiders as “less than,” it becomes easier to justify unfair treatment. Think of hate crimes, political polarization, or even genocide. These are extreme outcomes, but they all start with the same mindset — “we’re better than them.”

And in today’s polarized world, that mindset is more dangerous than ever.

Why We Should Care

You might be thinking, “Okay, but I’m not biased. I treat everyone the same.”

Here's the thing — ingroup bias is often unconscious. That means it’s happening in the background, without us even knowing. And if we’re not aware of it, we can’t address it.

By understanding how it works, we can start to notice those little moments — the times we favor someone just because they’re like us or dismiss someone just because they’re not.

It’s not about blaming ourselves. It’s about being more mindful, more fair, and more human.

Strategies to Overcome Ingroup Bias

So what can we actually do about it?

1. Be Aware of It

The first step is recognizing that ingroup bias exists — and that we’re all prone to it. Once we see it, we can start to challenge it.

Ask yourself:
- Am I judging this person fairly?
- Would I feel the same way if they were from my group?

2. Diversify Your Circle

Make a conscious effort to connect with people outside your usual groups. Different backgrounds, cultures, beliefs. When we get to know “the other,” they stop being “the other.”

It’s hard to hold onto stereotypes when you’ve shared coffee with someone who shatters them.

3. Practice Empathy

Try to put yourself in others’ shoes. Empathy is the antidote to bias. When we see people as individuals — not just group members — we’re less likely to judge unfairly.

4. Slow Down Your Thinking

Remember those mental shortcuts we talked about? Fight them by taking a pause. Don’t rely on snap judgments. Dig deeper. Think twice.

5. Use Inclusive Language

The words we use matter. Saying “those people” creates distance. Saying “our neighbors” or “our community” includes everyone. Small changes, big impact.

6. Educate Yourself Continually

Read books, listen to podcasts, watch documentaries — especially those from voices outside your usual bubble. The more we learn, the more we grow.

Final Thoughts: It Starts with Us

Ingroup bias is part of being human, but it doesn’t have to define us.

We’re wired for connection, but we don’t have to let our brains take the easy way out. We can choose curiosity over judgment, compassion over fear, and understanding over division.

It starts with noticing the way we think, the choices we make, and the people we surround ourselves with. Each of us has the power to build bridges instead of walls.

So next time you find yourself favoring someone just because they're like you, take a moment. Pause. Ask yourself why. Because awareness is the first step toward change.

And honestly? The world could use a little more connection — the real kind.