What is the outgroup homogeneity effect?

The outgroup homogeneity effect refers specifically to the tendency of individuals to perceive members of outgroups as being more similar to each other than members of their own ingroup. This phenomenon can manifest in various ways, such as assuming that people from a different cultural or social group share the same traits, behaviors, and attitudes, while simultaneously recognizing that individuals within one's own group exhibit a wide range of diversity and individuality.

This cognitive bias can be attributed to several factors, including limited exposure to outgroup members, which hinders the ability to recognize and appreciate nuances among them, and the social categorization processes that simplify the complexity of social identities, leading to generalized perceptions. Understanding this concept is essential in social psychology as it helps to explain the dynamics of intergroup relations and can illuminate issues related to prejudice, discrimination, and stereotyping.