Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow:-
Just as individuals compare themselves with others in terms of similarities and differences with respect to what they have and what others have, individuals also compare the group they belong to with groups of which they are not a member. It has been found that groups are more likely to take extreme decisions than individuals alone. Suppose there is an employee who has been caught taking a bribe or engaging in some other unethical act. His/her colleagues are asked to decide what punishment he/she should be given. They may let him/her go scot-free or decide to terminate his/her services instead of imposing a punishment which may commensurate with the unethical act he/she had engaged in. Whatever the initial position in the group, this position becomes much stronger as a result of discussions and interaction in the group.
When you find others having views similar to yours, you are likely to perceive them as:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Ingroup
Option (1) Ingroup — Correct. The term ‘ingroup’ refers to one’s own group, the ‘we’; persons in the ingroup are generally supposed to be similar and are viewed favourably. So when you find people having similar views, you are likely to perceive them as ingroup. You then start identifying with the group and showing conformity, and your views become stronger; this is one of the reasons for group polarisation.
Option (2) Outgroup — Incorrect. The outgroup is another group, the ‘they’. Its members are viewed differently and are often perceived negatively. People who share your views are seen as similar to you, the opposite of an outgroup.
Option (3) Non-conformists — Incorrect. Non-conformists are people who do not go along with the group’s norms. Finding like-minded people makes you identify with them and conform to them, so they are not seen as non-conformists.
Option (4) Friends — Incorrect. Friends is an everyday word for people we are close to, not a category of group. People who share your views need not be your friends at all; what changes is that you place them in your own group, the ingroup.
Note 1: The passage of Q1-5 is put together from two NCERT paragraphs: the opening sentence of ‘Ingroup and Outgroup’ and the paragraph on group polarisation, with the employee caught taking a bribe. Read the group processes chapter closely and these five questions are easy marks.
Note 2: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2025 on 20-05-2025 (Slot 1).
NCERT (2025-26): “Ingroup and Outgroup … Just as individuals compare themselves with others in terms of similarities and differences with respect to what they have and what others have, individuals also compare the group they belong to with groups of which they are not a member. The term ‘ingroup’ refers to one’s own group, and ‘outgroup’ refers to another group. For ingroup members, we use the word ‘we’ while for outgroup members, the word ‘they’ is used. By using the words they and we, one is categorising people as similar or different. It has been found that persons in the ingroup are generally supposed to be similar, are viewed favourably, and have desirable traits.…” “Group Polarisation … This firm conviction is because of the following three reasons:
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