we-group
Those like us
A we-group is any group a person identifies as belonging to—family, team, nation, or social circle.
The term comes from sociology, contrasting with they-group or out-group.
We-group membership shapes loyalty, bias, and behavior: People naturally favor their we-group in conflicts.
The boundaries shift depending on context—coworkers become a we-group when competing against another department.
Exclusive social circle
- collectiveJointly organized group
- tribeSocial group sharing ancestry
- cliqueExclusive social group
- circleCurved closed shape
insiders · belonging · solidarity · cohesion · camaraderie · community · fellowship · bonding
Related group sharing ancestry
- kinshipState of being related
- tribeSocial group sharing ancestry
- bandGroup playing music together
- familyRelated people together
lineage · ethnic · cultural · ancestral · indigenous · traditional · communal · village
Organized cooperative unit
- departmentDistinct unit within organization
- divisionSplitting into parts
- unitIndividual part or measure
- coalitionTemporary alliance for action
faction · alliance · network · collaborative · workplace · corporate · institutional · stakeholders
Who someone is
- social identitySelf derived from groups
- biasUnfair inclination or prejudice
- favoritismPreferential treatment of some
- ethnocentrismBelief one's culture superior
groupthink · conformity · categorization · perception · cognitive · attribution · homogeneity · outgroup
ingroup
Exclusive social circle
- collectiveJointly organized group
- tribeSocial group sharing ancestry
- cliqueExclusive social group
circle · insiders · belonging · solidarity · cohesion · camaraderie · community · fellowship · bonding · togetherness
clan
Related group sharing ancestry
family · lineage · ethnic · cultural · ancestral · indigenous · traditional · communal · village · extended family
team
Organized cooperative unit
- departmentDistinct unit within organization
- divisionSplitting into parts
- unitIndividual part or measure
coalition · faction · alliance · network · collaborative · workplace · corporate · institutional · stakeholders · committee
identity
Who someone is
- social identitySelf derived from groups
- biasUnfair inclination or prejudice
- favoritismPreferential treatment of some
ethnocentrism · groupthink · conformity · categorization · perception · cognitive · attribution · homogeneity · outgroup · intergroup