Transcript Sherif – Realistic Conflict

Realistic Conflict Theory
Mustafer Sherif
Social Psychology
Mustafa Sherif
& Realistic Conflict Theory
• Developed by Sherif (1966) this theory argues that
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intergroup conflict arises as a result of conflict of real or
imagined interests between groups.
For example when two groups want to achieve the same
goal but cannot have it, hostility is produced between
them.
When there is limited resources, then this leads to
conflict, prejudice and discrimination between groups
who seek that common resource.
Once hostility has been aroused, it is very difficult to
return to normal relations and an ongoing feud can arise
Main Proposition
• Group members’ behaviour and attitudes
will tend to reflect the objective interests
of groups against other groups.
The Robbers Cave Experiment
• Muzafer Sherif divided a Boy Scout camp
into two groups, the Eagles and the
Rattlers. After helping the groups to each
become cohesive, he introduced
competitive games and other conflicts.
Before long, a full-scale riot was in
progress and the researchers had to work
hard at mediation to defuse the situation.
Coal Miner’s Strike
“ We’ve always been
brought up to respect
policemen but I’ve
got no respect for any
of them now. There
was a time when if I
saw a policeman have
a hammering I’d go
and help him. I’d walk
past and spit in his
eye now”
Intergroup Contact
• Intergroup contact has been seen as a method
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of improving intergroup relations since the
1950’s. We have witnessed racial desegregation
in America and in areas of political conflict such
as Northern Ireland the use of contact between
groups has been used as a tool to improve
community relations.
Sherif (1966, p.88) reports ‘Far from reducing
conflict , these situations served as occasions for
rival groups to berate and attack each other.’
Intergroup Co-operation &
Superordinate Goals
Sherif’s Superordinated Goals:
Reasoning that it was common goals that
led to the formation of the groups initially,
the researchers thought that the
introduction of goals that were common to
both groups – superordinate goals – might
be effective in uniting the two groups.
This time, they were right. "
Sherif
• Crisis Brings the Groups Together
"The experimenters arranged for a series
of emergencies. For instance, the water
supply broke down, and the boys had to
work jointly if they wanted to have water
to drink.
The Outcome
• After a number of such
events, group hostility
was eventually reduced,
friendships developed
across group lines, and
the superordinate goals
became effective in
unifying the previously
hostile groups."