Group behaviour 2

What is the minimal group paradigm

• (Tajifel et al 1971)

• A method to examine the minimal conditions required for discrimination and conflict to occur between groups

• Minimal conditions were:

• Researchers created ‘meaningless’ groups

• To not give explicit criteria for interactions between groups (random group allocation)

• Participants do not know one another

• This measured participants perceptions, attitudes, behaviour and reward allocation

What were the experiments using MGP trying to examine

• Examined if meaningful groups and competitions needed intergroup conflict to occur

• Also examined wether being part of a group was enougj for intergroup conflict

• Tajfel specifically demonstrated this, competition is not necessary for intergroup conflict/discrimination

Kandinsky vs Klee (MGP) (Tajfel et al, 1971)

• Looked at group bias, discrimination and favouritism to one’s group

• They created meaningless groups, assigned boys randomly to 1 of 2 art groups based on their preference for Klee or Kandinsky painting

• The boys didn’t know each other and each boy was assigned a code number

• Told boys to distribute money to other participants by using reward allocation

Results of Kandinsky vs Klee

• There was a clear trend for awarding money to ingroup members compared to outgroup members

• Ingroup favouritism arose despite the fact boys didn’t know and didn’t interact with eachother beforehand

• Groups were meaningless

• Concluded that outgroup discrimination was easy to trigger

• The fact that they were categorised as a group member was enough to produce ethnocentrism (bias/conflict)

Critique of Kandinsky vs Klee

• Young Boys are typically competitive and prone to bias

• They demonstrated ingroup favouritism as a result of minimal conditions but not outgroup discrimination

MGP research with young children (Dunham, Baron and Carey, 2011)

• 33 boys and girls aged 5

• They were allocated into meaningless red or bile groups

• This comprised 8 photos of boys and girls wearing red/blue shirts

• This measured explicit (conscious) and implicit attitudes (unconscious) behavioural attribution and resource allocation

Results of MGP research with young children

• Found that with explicit attitudes, children preferred ingroup members

• There was significant differences found for children preferring their ingroup with implicit attitude

• Ingroup preferences were found for behavioural attribution

• Children tended to show ingroup preference for resource allocation

• Concluded that even young children (5) demonstrated ingroup preferences and favouritism

What is the motivational perspective (intergroup behaviour)

• Prejudice, discrimination and intergroup conflict results from motivation to view our group (us) more favourably than the outgroup (them)

• This enhances self esteem

• Our motivation to be biased and more favourable towards one group depends on categories

• The motivational perspective explains why people are more willing to help their own group

Critiques of MGP and motivational perspective

• MGP is used to examine the motivational perspective in social identity theory

• However it is unclear whether self esteem is a cause or effect of discriminatory behaviour

• Self esteem provides only a partial explanation for the relation between social identity and intergroup discriminatory behaviour

What does social identity theory describe

Describes:

• Attributes

• Thought processes

• Behaviour

What is social identity theory

• That we have an individual identity as well as a group behaviour

• Individuals adopt to their group identities and conform to its behaviour and norms

• It is the part of the individuals self concept and identity that are derived from their membership of a group

What is social identity associated with

• Ethnocentrism (ingroup favouritism)

• Intergroup differentiation

• Ingroup solidarity and cohesion (Intergroup)

• Conformity to ingroup norms

• Stereotype (intergroup/other groups)

How is social categorisation an element of social identity theory

• We classify people as members of different social groups eg religions

• This produces ingroup normative behaviour

How is de-personalisation an element of social identity theory

• Occurs as a result of categorisation

• We categorise people into relevant ingroup or out groups and don’t view them as individuals

• View them stereotypically

How is identification an element of social identity theory

We identify and associate typically with our group, this bolsters our self esteem and pride

How is comparison an element of social identity theory

Comparing our group with other groups and favouring our group (leads to intergroup conflict)

What is the social change belief system

• Achieves positive social identity

• To achieve a positive social identity on a group level:

• Take action to challenge legitimacy for getting a higher group status

• To achieve positive social identity on an individual level:

• Individuals believe that intergroup boundaries are permeable and move from low to high status group

• Gain self acceptance

How does education reduce intergroup conflict

• Teaching children in school moral implications of discrimination and prejudice

• Teaching children facts to correct stereotypes

• There is a limited impact of this if kids are exposed to other sources of prejudice away from the classroom eg at home, TV, social media

How does communication reduce intergroup conflict

• Bargaining, groups negotiate with representatives from each group

• Mediation, bring in a 3rd party to mediate between groups

• Arbitration, mediator or 3rd party impose a mutually binding settlement

• Conciliation, agreeing on a resolution to avoid conflict escalation and developing shared goals

How does intergroup contact reduce intergroup conflict

• Contact hypothesis (Allport, 1954)

• Brings together members of opposing groups which improves intergroup relations and reduces prejudice

• This creates opportunities to meet people from out groups

• Creates and supports groups interactions through education and culture