Final answer:
When people view themselves as part of an in-group, they often attribute negative behaviors of other in-group members to situational factors, while attributing the same behaviors of out-group members to personality or character, known as the fundamental attribution error.
Step-by-step explanation:
When people see themselves as members of an in-group and others as members of an out-group, they tend to exhibit certain biases in their perceptions and judgments. Specifically, they might see negative behavior by an in-group member as being more influenced by situational factors,
while interpreting the same behaviors in out-group members as reflective of their internal factors, like personality or character. Conversely, positive behavior by an in-group member might also be attributed to internal factors, revealing a pattern known as the fundamental attribution error.
This cognitive bias can lead to a cycle of stereotypes and discrimination, reinforcing the division between in-groups and out-groups and potentially resulting in prejudice and unfair treatment based on race, culture, sex, age, or sexuality.