intergroup

Intergroup cooperation helps the community achieve its goals.

Definition

Adjective:
Relating to, occurring between, or involving two or more different groups of people, especially in social, psychological, or organizational contexts. It describes interactions, relations, or comparisons that take place across group boundaries.

Usage Examples

• (Conflict that occurs between different ethnic groups.)
• (Cooperation that involves members of different teams or departments.)
• (Attitudes that one group holds toward another group.)

Advanced Usage

• Intergroup bias: the tendency to favor one's own group over other groups.
  • Intergroup bias can lead to discrimination in hiring practices. (Preferential treatment based on group membership.)
• Intergroup contact theory: a psychological theory suggesting that contact between groups can reduce prejudice.
  • The school implemented programs based on intergroup contact theory to improve student relations. (Theory about reducing hostility through interaction.)

Variants and Related Words

• Intergroup relations (noun phrase): the social interactions and dynamics between different groups.
  • Improving intergroup relations is a key goal of diversity training. (Relationships between distinct social groups.)
• Intergroup dialogue (noun phrase): structured conversation between members of different groups to address differences.
  • The university offers intergroup dialogues on race and identity. (Facilitated discussions across group lines.)

Synonyms

• Cross-group: involving members of different groups.
• Between-group: occurring or existing between groups.
• Inter-ethnic: specifically between ethnic groups (a subtype of intergroup).

Related Idioms

• Us versus them: a mindset that emphasizes differences between one's own group and others, often leading to intergroup conflict.
  • The political rhetoric created a strong us versus them mentality, worsening intergroup tensions. (A divisive attitude between groups.)

Antonyms

• Intragroup: occurring within a single group.
  • Intragroup dynamics are different from intergroup dynamics. (Relations inside one group.)