Realistic Conflict Theory Flashcards
Overview of RCT
-Explains inter-group hostility arising due to conflicting goals and competition over limited resources explaining prejudice.
-Focuses on situational forces outside self
-If resources abundant then groups cooperate, when scarce then competition
How is RCT different to SIT?
-RCT: occurs through competition between groups (Sheriff) whereas SIT only in and out groups
What do RCT and SIT both agree on?
-There are in groups and out groups that cause prejudice and group behaviour
What are the 5 key concepts included in RCT?
-Competition
-Negative interdependence
-scarce resources
-Zero sums fate
-Evolutionary links
Competition causing prejudice and examples
-Only one groups needs to believe that competition exists for there to be hostile behaviour
-Doesn’t have to be explicit only have to believe
-Eg. Football: competition between teams to be the top of the league. Working middle and upper classes, cultural and religious groups
Negative interdependence to explain prejudice and examples
-Out-group is a barrier to achieving the in-group’s goals.
-out group may not be aware of this
-believe in groups goals can only be achieved at the expense of the out-groups goals
-leads to zero tolerance, do everything you can to get goal and win
Scarce resources
-Something highly desirable or there isn’t a lot of
-length and security of resource decides on perceived value and shortage of resources
-neg stereotypes about other group
-mistrust and avoidance
-how long and severe the conflict is depends on the value and scarcity of the resources
-Eg taking job, lack of job occurred for 5-10 years but only see the other group getting the job
Zero sums fate
-Only one group can win (believe the in-group should always win at the expense of the outgroup)
-Lead to extreme forms of discrimination
Evolutionary links
-Based on the idea that when people are competing for survival they want people like them to survive so their genetics are passed onto next generation
How does RCT reduce prejudice and discrimination?
-Super-ordinate goals: two groups need to work together in order to achieve the scare resource/goal. If work together then won’t be competition
-In Sherifs study used to unite boys giving them shared goal to achieve (fixing the water pump, pooling together money, fixing the broken down truck)
What are some examples of super-ordinate goals in society?
-Working against climate change, requires multiple countries to work together
-Poverty reduction: needs multiple organisations to provide aid and support
Evaluation
EACH
Evidence to support RCT (sherif)
-Sherif et al: boys who were strangers to groups at summer camp, introduced competition and conflict developed very quickly. Demonstrates how competition can lead to prejudice and discrimination
-Competition: when tournament announced boys began to fight and name call. In group favouritism as derogatory terms
-Zero sums fate: leaders took on challenges, burned camp flags only one group can win
-Super-ordinate goals: had to work together to fix the truck etc
Contrasting sherif and study to support this
-Boys hostile before introducing competition, suggests only groups caused prejudice. Rattlers said “they had better not be using our water hole”
-SIT might be better explanation
-Tajfels minimal group experiments: 3 mental processes. Gave slips of paper with scores on, had to circle the one that meant they had the best score. But found they would circle the one which meant the other group had the least, just wanted to be better.
How good is the research of the robbers cave study?
-Two groups of boys artificial and so was the competition, doesn’t reflect RL prejudice
-Middle class boys, doesn’t reflect inner city gangs
-excludes girls and adults so reduces the credibility of
