Psychology of Human Relations Flashcards
Cooperation and competiton
Sherif et al (1954)
Aim: To investigate the formation and resolution of intergroup conflict, as well as how competition for resources leads to hostility and whether working towards a mutual goal reduces conflict.
Procedure: A field experiment with preteen boys from similar socio-economic backgrounds, divided randomly into two groups. The experiment had three phases:
1. Group formation - groups participated in bonding activities within their groups to establish group identity
2. Friction phase - introduction of competitive games
3. Integration phase - introduction of common goals requiring cooperation
Results: During the friction phase, hostility arose between groups. In group solidarity increased and negative stereotypes of the outgroup developed. In the integration phase, hostility decreased and intergroup cooperation improved.
Conclusion: Conflict arises naturally when groups compete for resources and cooperation towards a common goal can improve relations.
Prejudice and discrimination
Levinson (2007)
Aim: To investigate the influence of implicit bias on memory recall.
Procedure: Participants read two stories. The race of the protagonist was manipulated (African-American, Caucasian, Hawaiian) but otherwise the stories were identical for all participants. After a brief distractor task they were asked to recall details of the story. Participants also completed a separate test measuring explicit racial preferences.
Results: Participants were more likely to falsely remember positive details for Caucasian characters. Participants were also more likely to remember aggressive details for African-American characters compared to Caucasian characters. No correlation was found between memory biases and explicit racial preferences.
Conclusion: Implicit biases can influence cognitive processes and operate separately from explicit racial preferences. Individuals may unconsciously hold biases even if they do not openly express racial prejudice.
