Tajfel's minimal group paradigm

Tajfel's minimal group paradigm is a psychological experiment that explores how people form groups and exhibit favoritism. In this study, participants were randomly assigned to groups based on trivial criteria, such as supposed preferences for certain colors or art styles. Despite these arbitrary distinctions, participants showed a tendency to favor their own group, allocating resources more generously to group members, even at a cost to themselves. This reveals how easily people can develop in-group biases and highlights the powerful influence of social identity, demonstrating that mere categorization can lead to discrimination and favoritism, regardless of meaningful connections.