Tajfel | Social Cognitive Theory

Aim

To investigate if intergroup discrimination would take place on being put into different groups.

Procedure

A sample of 48 boys who ranged from the age of 14-15 years old were asked to rate 12 paintings from painters Paul Klee and Wassily and Kadinsky. Participants were not aware of which painting belonged to which painter.

Then each boy was given a task to award points to 2 other boys, one from their own group and one from the other group.

Point allocation system 1: The total points given was linked so that the sum of all points given per participant was 15, so if a participant gave another participant more points, then the other participant’s score decreases

Point allocation system 2: essentially, if they gave their own group member a higher point, then the system would give the other group more points. If they gave a mid level point to their own group, the same amount of points would be given to the other group. If they gave their own group lower points, the other group would only be given one point.

Findings

It was found that participants tend to give more points to their own members than out group members for the first point allocation system, and for the second point allocation system, participants were willing to give their own group members less points in order for the other group to only get one point.

Conclusion

There is a natural tendency for members of a group to favour their in group. It is not necessary for competition to be necessary and sufficient to produce prejudice.