Social Psychology - Realistic Conflict Theory and Robbers Cave Experiment

Realistic Conflict Theory (Sherif, 1966)

• Intergroup conflict arises from competition for limited resources.
• Competition leads to hostility, negative attitudes, prejudice, and discrimination.
• In-group solidarity increases.
• Prejudice can be reduced by establishing superordinate goals requiring cooperation.

Key Features:

• Competition magnifies differences between groups.
• Negative interdependence: Only one group can reach a goal, creating conflict.
• Superordinate goals require cooperation and benefit both groups.
• Positive interdependence: Neither group can succeed without the other.

Evidence:

• Ember and Ember (1992): Intergroup hostility increases with competition for resources.
• Hovland and Sears (1940): Negative correlation between cotton prices and lynchings (-0.72).
• Dollard (1938): Prejudice increases with job scarcity.

Strengths:

• Supported by the Robber's Cave study.
• Empirical research supports RCT.

Weaknesses:

• Social Identity Theory offers an alternative explanation.
• Ethical concerns: Theory could be manipulated to create prejudice.
• Reductionist: Ignores biological factors.

Application:

• Explains prejudice and discrimination in real-life scenarios.

The Robbers Cave Experiment (Sherif et al, 1961)

• Aim: To examine intergroup relations, in-group behavior, and hostility toward out-groups; to study if superordinate goals can overcome prejudice.
• Participants: 22 male participants aged 11 – 12 years old.
• Methodology: Field experiment in a Boy Scouts Camp.
• Experimental Design: Matched pairs design

Procedure:

• Stage 1: In-group formation (Rattlers and Eagles).
• Stage 2: Inter-group friction through competition.
• Stage 3: Inter-group integration via superordinate goals.

Results:

• Friendships: Increase in out-group friendships by stage 3.
• Qualitative: Shift from negative to more positive perceptions of the out-group.

Conclusion:

• Competition for limited resources leads to prejudice.
• Cooperation towards superordinate goals reduces hostility.

Evaluation:

• Generalisability: Limited sample (androcentric, ethnocentric).
• Reliability: Field experiment lacks standardized procedures.
• Application: Explains real-world in-group/out-group prejudice.
• Validity: High ecological and task validity.
• Ethics: Deception, presumptive consent.