PsychologyAugust 31, 2026
outgroup
OWT-groop
Definition
A social, religious, or political group to which an individual does not belong and often perceives as distinct or opposing from their own.
Etymology
Formed in the early 20th century by combining the English prefix 'out-', meaning 'external' or 'outside', with 'group'. It was popularized in sociology to contrast with 'ingroup' to describe the dynamics of social identity.
In the news
In the article, the term is used to describe groups that hold opposing political or religious views from the reader. The study suggests that consuming media from one's outgroup can reduce hostile assumptions about how that group views you.
Researchers identify a simple way to soften deep political divides
Read the full article ↗PsyPost