Final answer:
According to social identity theory, individuals are likely to exhibit biases against outgroups to protect their in-group when their self-esteem is threatened. This is linked to in-group bias and can be exacerbated by cognitive biases, including confirmation bias.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to social identity theory, when a group member's self-esteem is threatened, they are likely to exhibit biases against outgroups.
In the context of social identity theory, individuals are seen as having a tendency to identify with an in-group, which includes seeking the approval of in-group members and showing loyalty.
When their self-esteem is threatened, individuals may exhibit biases against outgroups as a way to protect and enhance their in-group's status and differentiate themselves from those they perceive as outsiders.
This phenomenon is related to the concept of in-group bias, which is the preference for our own group over other groups.
This bias can manifest in many negative ways, like prejudice and discrimination, particularly when individuals are motivated to defend their group's status.
Additionally, the concept of scapegoating illustrates how outgroups can be blamed for problems experienced by the in-group, reinforcing negative biases against them.
The desire to maintain a positive self-concept and the need to feel good about our in-groups can lead to biases against outgroups, which are groups that we view as fundamentally different from our own.
These biases can be further reinforced by cognitive biases like confirmation bias, which involves seeking information that supports our existing beliefs about outgroups and ignoring information that contradicts them.