The out-group homogeneity effect is the perception that members of an out-group are more similar to each other than members of an in-group. This bias manifests in social judgments where individuals perceive diversity among in-group members while attributing stereotypical traits to out-group members, leading to overgeneralizations and stereotypes. This perception has been observed across various social categories such as race, gender, and political groups.
In a study involving sorority members, each participant judged their own group as more diverse compared to members of two other sororities, illustrating the out-group homogeneity effect.
To overcome this bias, individuals can engage in mixed-group interactions and emphasize person-specific attributes over group stereotypes. This helps to recognize diversity within out-groups.