In-Group Favoritism in Job Evaluations

In social psychology, the concepts of prejudice and discrimination are often investigated through a range of theoretical frameworks. One important theory is the social identity theory, which explains how individuals' self-concept is influenced by their membership in various social groups. Within this context, researchers have explored the relationship between in-group favoritism and out-group discrimination.

Consider the following scenario: a research team conducted a study where participants were asked to evaluate a series of job candidates who were equally qualified but belonged to different social groups. The results showed that applicants from the participants' own group were rated significantly higher than those from other groups. Based on this scenario, which of the following best captures the underlying psychological principle at work?