After an inter-school quiz, Kavya says, 'We at Sunrise School prepare…

After an inter-school quiz, Kavya says, 'We at Sunrise School prepared as a team for weeks. They at Hill View just got lucky, and they are all show-offs anyway.' Which concept does Kavya's way of speaking best show?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 3

The correct answer is Option (3) → Ingroup-outgroup categorisation

Option (1) Social loafing — Incorrect. Social loafing is a fall in each person's effort when people work together on a group task. Kavya's team worked hard, and her words judge the other school.

Option (2) Social facilitation — Incorrect. Social facilitation is better performance on a task when others are present. Kavya is judging another school.

Option (3) Ingroup-outgroup categorisation — Correct. Kavya calls her own school 'we' (the ingroup) and the other school 'they' (the outgroup). Using they and we is categorising people as similar or different. Her ingroup gets desirable traits, while the outgroup is seen negatively.

Option (4) Group polarisation — Incorrect. Group polarisation is a group taking a more extreme position after discussion than its members held at first. Kavya is speaking for herself.

NCERT (2026-27): “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. Members of the outgroup are viewed”

“Box 7.2 differently and are often perceived negatively in comparison to the ingroup members. …”

“Think of any interinstitutional competition held in the near past. Ask your friends to write a paragraph about your school and its students, and about another school and students of that school. Ask the class and list the behaviour and characteristics of your schoolmates, and students of the other school on the board. Observe the differences and discuss in the class. …”