What term refers to the unfair treatment of individuals based on various group identities?

The term that refers to the unfair treatment of individuals based on various group identities is discrimination. Discrimination involves negative behaviors and attitudes directed towards individuals or groups based on characteristics such as race, gender, age, sexual orientation, or disability. This unfair treatment can manifest in many forms, including social exclusion, verbal harassment, and systemic inequalities.

Understanding discrimination is crucial in social psychology as it plays a significant role in shaping social interactions, influencing group dynamics, and contributing to broader societal issues. Recognizing and addressing discrimination is essential for promoting social justice and equality, as it helps identify how group identities can impact individual experiences and opportunities.

In contrast, concepts like attribution error, conformity, and social comparison refer to different psychological phenomena. Attribution error relates to the ways people explain the causes of behavior, conformity deals with the act of matching attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to group norms, while social comparison involves evaluating oneself in relation to others. None of these terms encapsulate the direct unfair treatment associated with group identities in the way that discrimination does.