Realistic conflict theory/ robbers' cave experiment classic study

Realistic Conflict Theory

theory stating that prejudice and discrimination will be increased between groups that are in conflict over a limited resource. Based on Sherif's Robber's Cave Experiment.

Who created Realistic Conflict Theory

Sherif (1966)

What year did the robber's cave experiment take place

1954

What was the Robber's Cave Experiment?

24 boys attended Robber's Cave summer camp, Oklahoma, for 3 weeks and competed against each other in two teams: The Eagles and the Rattlers.

Which data collection methods were used in the RCE

Observation, Socio-metric analysis, experiment, tape recordings

Describe the sample of RCE

24 well-adjusted (healthy, social, intelligent) 11-12 year old boys from middle class protestant backgrounds who were matched based on IQ and other abilities (e.g. sporting abilities). They did not know each other or about the study when they took part. They were screened beforehand to ensure they didn't have difficulties that may account for individual attitudes and behaviours.

The 3 stages of the RCE

In group formation, camp tournament, conflict resolution

In group formation stage

Stage 1. The groups were separated for the first 5-6 days and worked together to achieve common goals that required co-operation. Data was gathered via observation.

Camp tournament stage

Stage 2. For 4-5 days the groups participated in a camp tournament where individuals had to contribute in a competition to win points. Frustrating situations supposedly caused by the other group were also orchestrated.

Conflict resolution stage

Stage 3. For 6-7 days the two groups had to work together towards common goals: fixing the water tank; working to get food and sleeping gear for a joint camp-over; restarting the broken-down camp bus

Conclusion of RCE

Strong in-group identities formed in stage 1 and negative out-group biases in stage 2 formed very quickly. Stage 3 reduced negative out-group bias due to the removal of competition. Realistic conflict theory created that prejudice is formed via competition.

Strengths of RCE

High in internal validity as matched pairs design. High in ecological validity as used an actual summer camp

Weaknesses of RCE

Androcentric, ethnocentric, only males and only used one age group so lacks population validity. Unethical as boys weren't protected from psychological harm when they were purposefully set against each other to create discrimination. Qualitative data isn't very reliable to conclude from.

Strengths of Realistic Conflict Theory

Evidenced by the ecologically valid Robber's Cave experiment. Evidenced by social anthropologists Carol and Melvin Ember's observations of increases in intergroup hostility between tribal societies when competition for resources increases. Evidenced by Aronson's experiment of the jigsaw technique where the removal of competition decreased prejudice (competitive classes split into small groups and all groups had to succeed in a group task for the entire class project to succeed)

weaknesses of Realistic Conflict Theory

Sherif's own writings show evidence of hostility even before competition was introduced so the mere existence of other groups may cause prejudice rather than competition (like Social Identity Theory)