black sheep effect

the tendency to evaluate a disreputable or disliked person more negatively when that person is a member of one’s own group rather than of some other group. Although an apparent contradiction of ingroup bias, the black sheep effect is explained by social identity theory: People respond negatively to those who act in ways that threaten their group’s identity, particularly when they affiliate strongly with their group .

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Psychology term of the day

November 23rd 2024

sibling

n. one of two or more children born of the same two parents (i.e., a sister or brother). Also called sib.