In-group vs. reference group

[basophilic]

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Can a reference group be the same as an in-group? Or does reference group necessarily include people we don't directly know; e.g. people from magazines, TV, internet, etc.?

 

[SkyJumper42]

The two groups are exclusive. You can't be a part of the group you compare yourself to, or else essentially you are comparing you to yourself. It would be contradictory, so a reference group is a group you are NOT a part of, and the group you compare yourself to.

 

[shefv]

I thought that you could still compare yourself to the in group to make sure your actions/behaviours conform, for example in a peer group situation or if you are a part of a political party/campaign - you compare yourself to others and make adjustments to self in order to better fit in.

In group = all the groups that you are a part of
Reference group = the group you are comparing yourself to

 

[SkyJumper42]

The way that I viewed it as was that the in-group was a group you were already a part of, so sure your actions will naturally be like theirs, but in the reference group, it is the group you refer to and aspire to become like them. You aren't in the group yet, so you refer to them to dictate your actions.

 

[basophilic]

I too am leaning toward SkyJumper42's description, but then again I've never seen reference group by definition exclude in-groups.

 

[SkyJumper42]

I too am leaning toward SkyJumper42's description, but then again I've never seen reference group by definition exclude in-groups.

I haven't either to be honest, but I am not sure any definition would explicitly say it excludes other vocabulary terms. Let's see if some other people chime in and get their opinion.

 

[cookiemonster1234]

I agree with SkyJumper42's description also. Im leaning towards that meaning of it