Social Identity Theory

Realistic Group Conflict Theory

Intergroup conflict is caused by real conflict between group interests, such as competition over limited resources

Minimal Group Paradigm

Experimental procedure where trivial group differences are created artificially to investigate the effects of social categorization on intergroup discrimination

In Group Favoritism

Behavior that is biased towards the benefits of the in-group

Out-Group Discrimination

Behavior that creates disadvantages for the out-group

Distinctiveness

In group must be perceived as positively different from out groups

Tajfel Study

Aim: to investigate the effect of social categorization on intergroup behavior in a minimal group paradigm 

Procedure: 64 male students in England aged 14-15 split randomly into groups of 8 and all knew each other well. Stage 1 participants shown slides with clusters of dots & asked to estimate number of dots. After stage 1 participants divided randomly into over estimators and under estimators. In Stage 2 participants asked to distribute rewards & penalties in real money to others. 

Results: Boys displayed in group favoritism and allocated more rewards to members of their own group