Prejudice: Realistic Conflict Theory (Situational)

Question 1

What does the theory suggest brings about prejudice?

Answer 1

That the presence of another group will lead to conflict if they have conflicting goals or competition over limited resources.

Question 2

Give 3 examples of scarce resources.

Answer 2

1) Money
2) Land
3) Food

Question 3

Define ‘zero-sums fate’.

Answer 3

When there are not enough resources to share and so only one group can prosper.

Question 4

Give a historical example of when RCT could be applicable for prejudice.

Answer 4

P - Britain, France, and Germany
E - They used to compete for imperial colonies. There are only so many colonies, money, and jobs to go around and so they are limited resources
E - Countries such as Denmark and the Netherlands never competed with us for resources which is why we don’t give them negative stereotypes

Question 5

What does this theory suggest about the reality of conflict?

Answer 5

The conflict can be actual or perceived.

Question 6

Give an example of a perceived conflict.

Answer 6

The idea that immigrants are coming into the UK and ‘stealing’ our jobs, when the reality is that they don’t apply for the majority of the jobs the British public seek.

Question 7

Give an example of an actual conflict.

Answer 7

Civil war in Germany over competition for land.

Question 8

What does this theory suggest as a solution to competition causing prejudice?

Answer 8

Superordinate goals.

Question 9

Define ‘superordinate goals’.

Answer 9

A goal that can only be achieved through teamwork.

Question 10

Give an example of a superordinate goal reducing conflict.

Answer 10

Stereotypes about French people have reduced since the introduction of the EU allowing trading and working together of European countries.

Question 11

Using the acronym ‘EACH’, evaluate 2 ‘evidence’ points.

Answer 11

P - Sherif’s (1954) study supports
E - He found that when he introduced competition to the boys they became hostile
E - Showing that prejudice can come from competition
P - Christine Brain (2015) supports
E - She reported conflicted between Russia and Ukraine due to Russia controlling gas supply to Europe that has to flow through Ukraine who don’t get any
E - Therefore demonstrating conflict in zero-sums and due to limited resources

Question 12

Using the acronym ‘EACH’, evaluate 2 ‘how’ points.

Answer 12

P - Sherif’s study has low generalisability
E - The sample of 12 year old boys from America, matched as closely as possible
E - Not generalisable to whole population or other countries and so isn’t representative of prejudice arising as a result of conflict
P - Studies have low validity
E - Use correlational data of limited resources and conflict between groups
E - Doesn’t establish a cause and effect between the two variables so has low credibility

Question 13

Are there any applications?

Answer 13

P - Yes
E - Can explain real life examples of discrimination between people of different ethnicities
E - Ways to reduce discrimination such as the jigsaw classroom technique (working together to piece together and assignment)

Question 14

Using the acronym ‘EACH’, evaluate 2 ‘credibility’ points.

Answer 14

P - Reductionist
E - Reduces cause of prejudice down to competition for resources and conflict of interest
E - Humans are very complex and so there must be more detail to why prejudice occurs
P - Social Identity Theory disagrees
E - It says that prejudice is built in us and that the only thing you need to cause prejudice is the presence of another group
E - And so competition is not necessarily the only factor