Christopher is a middle-aged accountant. Which of the following groups would most likely be considered his outgroup?

• A. Colleagues in his workplace
• B. Teenage skateboarders
• C. Other middle-aged accountants
• D. Members of his professional accounting association

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of 'ingroup' and 'outgroup' in social psychology. An ingroup consists of people with whom an individual identifies or feels a sense of belonging, while an outgroup consists of those perceived as different or outside that social circle.
2. Step 2: Identify the groups listed in the problem and consider which groups Christopher is likely to identify with based on shared characteristics such as age, profession, or social environment.
3. Step 3: Analyze each group: 'Colleagues in his workplace' and 'Other middle-aged accountants' share professional and age-related characteristics with Christopher, making them likely ingroups.
4. Step 4: Consider 'Members of his professional accounting association' as another group sharing professional identity, which also suggests ingroup membership.
5. Step 5: Recognize that 'Teenage skateboarders' differ significantly in age, interests, and social identity from Christopher, making them the most likely outgroup.