When Carlos sees his friend at work leave right after lunch, he assumes his friend isn't feeling well. When Carlos sees his female boss leaving right after lunch, he gets angry that she's taking advantage of her position. What concept regarding intercultural communication obstacles might explain the difference in Carlos' feelings?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Carlos is likely perceiving his friend as part of his in-group and therefore interpreting the behavior more favorably, while perceiving his boss as part of an out-group and interpreting the behavior more negatively. This is a common obstacle in intercultural communication known as in-group/out-group bias.

When Carlos Sees His Friend at Work Leave Right After