Which of the following scenarios is an example of in-group favoritism?

• A. A child who shares their toys with all of their classmates, regardless of race, gender, or ethnicity.
• B. A judge rules impartially, despite the fact that she considers the defendant a family friend.
• C. A woman volunteers at an organization that serves people of all different backgrounds.
• D. A hiring manager favors applicants who attended the same sorority as her.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of in-group favoritism, which refers to the tendency of individuals to favor members of their own group over those outside the group, often leading to preferential treatment based on shared identity or affiliation.
2. Step 2: Analyze each scenario by identifying whether the behavior shows preference or bias toward a specific group that the individual identifies with (the in-group).
3. Step 3: Evaluate the first three scenarios: sharing toys with all classmates shows no group preference; a judge ruling impartially despite personal connections shows fairness, not favoritism; volunteering for diverse groups shows inclusivity, not favoritism.
4. Step 4: Examine the last scenario where a hiring manager favors applicants from the same sorority, which is a clear example of in-group favoritism because the manager is giving preferential treatment based on shared group membership.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the scenario involving the hiring manager is the correct example of in-group favoritism, as it demonstrates bias toward members of the manager's own social group.