Which term refers to groups to which we don't belong and which are regarded with suspicion and as less worthy than their own?

• A. Outgroup
• B. Ingroup
• C. Primary group
• D. Social group

Answer: (A)

This item tests how groups we don’t belong to are perceived in contrast to our own. People categorize others as belonging to the ingroup (the group we’re part of) or the outgroup (the group we’re not part of). The outgroup is often viewed with suspicion and regarded as less worthy, a tendency that stems from in-group bias and the tendency to define ourselves by differentiation from those who are “other.” For example, fans of a rival team are the outgroup in that context. The other terms don’t fit: the ingroup is the group we belong to; a primary group refers to close-knit, intimate relationships; and a social group is a broad term for any grouping, not the specific “not belonging” contrast.