Watch for
Negative generalisations about groups you do not belong to.
Social & PerceptionBias #54
Out-Group Derogation
We devalue those outside our group.
The tendency to view out-group members as threats leading to active hostility or disdain.
Why it matters: Core component of intergroup conflict studied in social identity theory.
Try this
Seek positive contact with out-group members under cooperative equal-status conditions.
Real-world example
A sports fan mockingly dismisses rival supporters as unintelligent.
Key researchers
Henri Tajfel, John Turner
First described in 1979
Psychological mechanism
Social identity maintenance. Derogating out-groups elevates own group status boosting self-esteem through group identification.
Seminal research
Henri Tajfel and John C. Turner (1979), "An integrative theory of intergroup conflict."
Debrief
Biases are not character flaws. They are recurring patterns in how minds compress uncertainty, save energy, and narrate reality. Once you recognise the pattern, you can slow the decision down, test the assumption, and make space for a better explanation.