Evaluate RCT As Explanation For Prejudice Flashcards
Summary p1
Realistic conflict theory states that whenever there are two or more groups that are seeking the same limited resources, this will lead to conflict, negative stereotypes and beliefs, discrimination and prejudice between the groups, this is called intergroup competition.
Summary p2
Conflict, discrimination and prejudice between groups can be reduced in situations where two or more groups are seeking to obtain some superordinate goals. Superordinate goals are mutually-desirable goals that cannot be obtained without the participation of two or more groups.
Logical chain 1
P
One strength of Realistic conflict theory is that it has supporting evidence giving it high credibility.
Logical chain 1
E
For example…Sherif et al’s study, The Robbers Cave experiment, is an intergroup study, looking at what causes groups to change their behaviours when they come into contact with each other and at what happens when groups are forced to compete or cooperate. It showed a group of 22 eleven year old boys from Oklahoma, getting into conflict when they were put into competition. It was an example situation of negative interdependence and the outcome was an increase in violence and prejudice. Sherif used superordinate goals to remove the competition and the boys became friendly again.
Logical chain 1
T
Therefore…these findings demonstrate that competition does lead to intergroup hostility and prejudice as the theory indicates.
Logical chain 1
(C) p
However, a competing theory of prejudice is…the Social Learning theory.
Logical chain 1
(C) e
SIT claims that prejudice is natural and instinctive and happens immediately, as soon as you categorise yourself as belonging to an ingroup (social categorisation) and notice other people belonging to an outgroup (social comparison). This happens as we have a strong desire to belong and we drive our self esteem through group membership and the acceptance of those around us.
Logical chain 1
(C) t
This suggests… that prejudice actually has nothing to do with competition over resources, in fact our behaviour is motivated by our social identity.
Logical chain 2
P
RCT theory has good application in helping to reduce prejudice.
Logical chain 2
E
For example…the realistic conflict theory proposes that intergroup relations can be enhanced through the introduction of superordinate goals, which require in and out group members to cooperate in order to achieve a goal that would not be able to be accomplished without joint effort.
Logical chain 2
T
This is useful because…prejudice & discrimination are arguably two of the most important issue the modern world is facing. The idea of subordinate goals is evidence for how we need to work together for greater goods as in the Paris agreement on climate change.
Logical chain 2
(C) p
However, a weakness of RCT is…that externally imposed competition between groups is not always necessary to create prejudice.
Logical chain 2
(C) E
-Tajfel’s exp
for example, Tajfel’s minimal group experiment showed that prejudice, discrimination at the least, can come from the simple act of perceiving someone as “different to you”, in the case on the basis of a very trivial task of estimating the number of dots.
Logical chain 2
(C) T
Therefore…this shows that the boys potentially would have treated others differently on the basis of information about group membership alone, suggesting that prejudice might be less about competition and more about knowledge of who we are, self worth, and through comparing ourselves to others.
Conclusion
To conclude, the realistic conflict theory is useful as it highlights the fact that individuals & groups don’t interact within a socioeconomic vacuum – real competition for limited resources including social power is an important figure for prejudice. Despite this, Tajfel’s research clearly demonstrates that our group status alone is enough to provoke differential treatment even in the absence of any realistic conflict for limited resources.
