Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow:

Just as individuals compare themselves with others in terms of similarities and differences with respect to what they have and what others have, individuals also compare the group they belong to with groups of which they are not a member.

It has been found that groups are more likely to take extreme decisions than individuals alone. Suppose there is an employee who has been caught taking a bribe or engaging in some other unethical act. His/her colleagues are asked to decide what punishment he/she should be given.

They may let him/her go scot-free or decide to terminate his/her services instead of imposing a punishment which may commensurate with the unethical act he/she had engaged in. Whatever the initial position in the group, this position becomes much stronger as a result of discussions and interaction in the group.

Q) When you find others having views similar to yours, you are likely to perceive them as:

The correct option is lngroup.

Step-by-step Explanation:

1. Understanding the Concept of Ingroup vs. Outgroup:
In social psychology, an ingroup is a social group to which a person psychologically identifies as being a member. Conversely, an outgroup is a social group with which an individual does not identify. Individuals tend to favor members of their own ingroup over those in outgroups.

2. Analyzing the Passage:
The passage describes how individuals compare the group they belong to (ingroup) with groups of which they are not members (outgroup). It highlights that group interactions and discussions strengthen initial individual positions, a phenomenon known as group polarization.

3. Connecting Similar Views to Ingroup Perception:
When you discover that other individuals share beliefs, attitudes, or views similar to yours, it establishes a sense of shared identity and belonging. According to social identity theory, this perceived similarity in views leads you to categorize these individuals as members of your own group, which is termed the ingroup.

4. Why other options are incorrect:
- Outgroup refers to people perceived as different or belonging to a group other than one's own.
- Non-conformists are individuals who do not conform to prevailing ideas or practices, which is the opposite of sharing similar views.
- Friends is a personal relationship term, whereas the question asks about social categorization (Ingroup vs. Outgroup) as discussed in the context of group dynamics in the passage.