Final answer:
In 'The Outsiders,' an insider is part of a group they identify with, while an outsider is excluded or viewed as an adversary, reflecting sociologist William Sumner's in-group and out-group concept.
Step-by-step explanation:
In S.E. Hinton's novel The Outsiders, being an insider or outsider refers to a character's social status and acceptance within their community. In 'The Outsiders,' an insider is part of a group they identify with, while an outsider is excluded or viewed as an adversary, reflecting sociologist William Sumner's in-group and out-group concept.
The insiders are the Greasers, a tight-knit group of working-class teens who have their own set of norms and look out for each other against the rival gang, the Socs, who represent the outsiders to the Greasers.
However, to the upper-class Socs, the Greasers are the outsiders. This dynamic is reflective of sociologist William Sumner's concepts of in-group (an individual feels she belongs) and out-group (someone doesn't belong to).