In-Group Bias
In-Group Bias is a cognitive pattern where individuals favor members of their own group over outsiders, even when group distinctions are arbitrary or trivial. Based on Henri Tajfel's Social Identity Theory and the Minimal Group Paradigm (1971), this mental model explains why we experience tribalism in sports, silos in corporate environments, and polarizing political bubbles. Recognizing In-Group Bias allows leaders to foster cross-functional collaboration, reduce organizational friction, and make more objective decisions by neutralizing "us vs. them" narratives that distort reality.