Conflict and Peacemaking Flashcards
Competition
Usually for resources
Sherif’s Robbers Cave Experiment;
competition driving prejudice and discrimination.
fear of losing.
participants were well-adjusted, successful, white middle class American boys (11-12).
attended a camp unaware their behaviour was being documented.
studied group conflict theory.
1.opposition of interest when groups are pursuing objectives in which a gain by one group results in loss by another.
- opposition causes frustration towards one group.
3.negative perceptions about the other group.
- solidarity and cohesion within group caves over conflict between groups.
Perceived Injustice
Others are getting more, or better than you
feeling like you aren’t getting your fair share– can drive conflict.
its you subjective feelings
What is equality?- define it in a way that benefits you the most.
everyone receives the same benefits.
those who contribute more receive more.
those who need more receive more.
> all ways we can think about equality.
Misperception
our goals don’t match– cant achieve both (incompatibility)
groups thinks of themselves as victims
often mutual, each group has the same misperceptions
Misperception drives;
Self-serving bias– take credit for your success, but make excuses for failures.
Self-justification– excuse for doing something wrong, don’t take responsibility
Fundamental attribution error– Your own mistakes aren’t yours, others mistakes mean they are bad
Filter of information through preconceptions
Group polarization
Groupthink
In-group bias– triggered by belonging to a group automatic bias towards your group
Negative stereotypes
Prisoners Dilemma
Each get opportunity to rat out partner.
win if you are the only one who rats out.
you don’t know what your partner will do.
Hypothetical situation.
people who cheat system do extra well.
but if everyone cheats, no one does well.
if one betrays other and other does not than one that betrays goes free while other serves 3 years.
if both betray than they both serve 2 years.
if both stay silent than both serve 1 year.
hypothetical situation.
Resource dilemmas
Public goods- ie/ taxes- if no one pays there goes school, healthcare.- ie/ blood donation. not voluntary.
Tragedy of the Commons–seen in situations where there are shared resources.
system only works if people show restraint- tempted to cheat.
people who live in villages had a # of sheep they had.
had common sheep area- but if everyone goes theres no grass, so you need to show restraint.
but if one person goes they will get more grass (breaking restraint)- not everyone can do this.
The fundamental attribution error
Different attributions for your own behaviour versus others
find external reason to why you cheated system. ie/ I needed to do this.
when other people chat you think they are greedy.
Evolving motives
Motives can change over time, as wins and losses accrue.
need to win causes motive change
Non Zero sum games
These are situations in which everyone can potentially win.
ie/ sheep and fish stock– follow rules; everyone wins
Resolving Social dilemmas
Regulation– ie/ fishing (certain fish #’s you can catch)
Small group size–less likely to seek social dilemmas.
-more social pressure, ppl will know you cheated.
Communication– if you know someone will cheat, you are more likely to
Changing the payoffs– ie/ HOU lanes, rewarding carpooling.
Appeal to altruism norms– relationship between attitude and behaviour.
-cue people to think about beliefs and values
contact predicts attitudes
the more contact that straight people have with gays and lesbians, the more accepting they become
spend time around people not like you - to be more accepting
Equal-status contact
intergroup contact is also more likely to reduce conflict when in-group and out-group members occupy equal status that when they occupy unequal status.
-have to see yourself as equal
reducing prejudice through cooperation
common external threats build cohesiveness
superordinates goals-foster cooperation.
- need the support of another group to reach goal.
-reduce in-group bias and intergroup conflict
-usually gradual.
-restructures relationships between groups
Cooperative learning improves racial attitudes
Reducing stereotypes
Increased contact, decreased negative stereotypes
Shared identities– like superordinate goals.
Decategorization– erase group identity.
Recategorization– put together again as one group.
Changing cultures and motivations– so were aren’t constantly reinforced.
-Media– how they portray people. ie/ white person’s face not listed in crimes, but non-white people would be.
-Local environment.
Contact Hypothesis
-Equal status of participants.
-Personal, one on one interaction.
-Working together to achieve a joint goal.
-Social norms favouring contact between groups.
<in order to work these need to be met.
humanize people.
reduce people think they are part of a group.
Jigsaw Classroom
Students divided into small racially and
academically mixed groups
Each student in the group was responsible for learning one area of the topic
Students have to work together to assemble
full knowledge of the topic.
need each other!
time consuming, but successful.
empowers you.
People tend to like each other more, and have increased self esteem.
decreases prejudice.
Motivation to avoid prejudice
Motivation to avoid prejudice– or nothing will change.
the difficulty of overcoming “prejudice habit”– because it is a pattern of thinking.
Internal– recognize it is coming from you and not external factors.
External– even just noticing and marking it, will help.
Motivated people can modify thoughts and actions to reduce prejudice
what creates conflict
social dilemmas
competition - usually for resources
perceived injustice - others are getting more than you
misperception
