Group Salience & Conflict

Question 1

Social competition occurs when groups are ….

Answer 1

too similar to them and therefore are a threat or perceived threat, or when there are no other alternatives.

Question 2

In-group favouritism only occurs when …

Answer 2

group self-worth is at stake.

Question 3

According to Brewer, change from _____ ______ to _______ ______ to ______ _____ is progressive.

Answer 3

According to Brewer, change from in-group identification to cooperative interdependence to intergroup conflicts is progressive.

Question 4

Intergroup conflict represents the causal link between what constructs?

Answer 4

the survival of the in-group and destruction of the out-group.

Question 5

what is the ‘intergroup contact’ hypothesis?

Answer 5

it is the contact between groups in a contact situation, characterised by four key conditions: qual status, intergroup cooperation, common goals, and support by social and institutional authorities.

Question 6

Who proposed intergroup contact?

Answer 6

Allport in 1954.

Question 7

What are the shortcomings of intergroup contact concept?

Answer 7

It is believed that in-group membership precedes intergroup hostility and intergroup conflict, a linear explanation to solving these issues. However, there is a lack of attention towards other psychological mechanisms i.e. ethnocentrism.

Question 8

Give an explanation of Sumner (1906) Ethnocentrism concept.

Answer 8

It is believed that the norms, values, ideology etc. of our own group are superior to others and that ‘we’ are at the centre of everything and others are judged in relation to this own group.

Question 9

Social Categorisation principle

Answer 9

Human groups organised into discrete in and out-group categories. Suggests we organise ourselves in we identify groups we think we belong to and aim for memberships and groups we do not belong to.

Question 10

In-group positivity principle

Answer 10

we positively evaluate the in group and we seek cooperative relationships with members of this group and to maintain status and success of our in-group. i.e. favour the in-group (in-group favouritism; Tajfel 1970s).

Question 11

Inter-group Comparison principle

Answer 11

In-group positivity is enhanced by social comparison with the out-group. Linked to measuring how successful we are as a group to other groups by making these social comparisons, indicating an awareness of groups.

Question 12

Out-group Hostility principle

Answer 12

The relationships between in- & out-groups are characterised by antagonism, conflict or mutual contempt. We are no longer just making comparisons but rather a shift in our psychological perspective on the groups that exist i.e. hostility may occur.

Question 13

What did Brewer (2001) suggest about Sumners Ethnocentrism concept?

Answer 13

These elements are a continuum of relationships, not all at once and more things that are possibles.
1st two steps (SC & IG+) are universal in human groups (we belong & aware of other grps)

2nd two (IGC & OGH) are possible but are not inevitable. not all groups in society will engage that way, but it depends on the social context in which we engage.

Question 14

Brewer (2001) Social Categorisation

Answer 14

How we distinguish members in different categories. Cannot do as individuals therefore SC allows us to

Question 15

Brewer (2001) Social Categorisation

Answer 15

How we distinguish members in different categories. Cannot do as individuals therefore SC gives us a tool (stereotyping) to allow us navigation of our social environment.
Recognition of categories lays foundation for social differentiation

Question 16

In Social Categorisation (Brewer, 2001) ‘assimilation’ occurs when…

Answer 16

once we join a group, we mirror the behaviour in order to be accepted and therefore an assimilation occurs (being noticed that we can fit in that group)
…resulting in heightened attachment and differentiation. (NEED FOR SIMILARITY WITH IN-GROUP MEMBERS AND DIFFERENTIATION WITH OUT-GROUP)

Question 17

In-group Positivity (Brewer, 2001)

Answer 17

The better the group performs the better we feel about the group or our membership to it. The positive feeling and evaluations that we get from the group feeds into our individual well-being.

Question 18

How does Brewer (2001) In-group Positivity relate to Tajfel’s Social Identity Theory

Answer 18

We can recognise groups, knowing we are a group member and the emotional significance of that membership that is important.
Emotional significant = stronger membership and our sense of self.

Question 19

However ‘In-group Positivity’ (Brewer, 2001) may lead to out-groupers experiencing…

Answer 19

• less help from in-group
• more likely to be seen as aggressive-provoking
• less likely to receive benefit of doubt (int + explanation for in-grp beh. & ext hostile explanation for out-grp, linked to SIT)
• seen as less deserving of public welfare

Question 20

Give an explanation of Brewer (2001) Intergroup Comparison in terms of self-evaluation.

Answer 20

The better the others look, the worse we look. This can start competitive comparisons, which is two groups (group similarity, proximity & threat) making competitive comparisons in performance between the groups. i.e. we are doing good to we are doing better.

Question 21

social competition occurs when…

Answer 21

there is no other alternative. When groups can hold a positive identities at the same time, when isn’t possible…. we start to see unfair comparisons. This usually happens when our identities are at stake.

Question 22

What is the distinction between intergroup competition and intergroup aggression?

Answer 22

competition- motivation to seek relative gain

aggression- motivation to harm others as an end in itself.

Question 23

Define ‘relative deprivation’.

Answer 23

this psychological feeling that we are being denied access to something that we are entitled to; or that other groups are being allowed access to something that we are not. Therefore, being deprived of something.

Question 24

According to Brewer, intergroup conflict represents what for both in and out-group?

Answer 24

the direct link between the survival of the in-group and the destruction of the out-group.

Question 25

‘Realistic Conflict Theory’ devised by Sherif (1962) relates to Intergroup Conflict by Brewer how?

Answer 25

By the Robbers cave experiment, he saw that limited resources increased conflict i.e. prejudice and discrimination, between the two groups. Simultaneously, out-group is perceived as a threat. The prejudice and discrimination increases the violence toward the out-group.