REALISTIC CONFLICT THEORY

Question 1

Who created real realistic conflict theory?

Answer 1

Sherif (1966)

Question 2

What study did sheriff conduct to form the basis of RCT?

Answer 2

“The Robbers Cave study”

Question 3

Explain the “Robbers Cave theory”

Answer 3

• Twenty-two 11-year-old white middle class protestant boys arrived at a summer camp in Oklahoma
• They were selected through similar psychological and physical traits
• (none of them knew each other)
• The boys were divided into two equal group based on equal education, educational and athletic abilities
• They participated in various tasks and activities to help them bond and work together
• They created the names of “rattlers” and “eagles”
• The two groups with an introduced to each other and over the next 4 to 6 days tension began to build
• Each group compared their own to the others and formed negative stereotypes
• An observer conducted sociometric analysis of the boys monitoring the formation and dissolution of new friendships as well as the development of social hierarchies within the group
• after self reporting, 93% of the boys exclusively selected members of their own group when asked to their friends were
• After generating high levels of animosity, the researchers gave the group a superordinate goal
• After conducting another round of self reporting, they found a significant increase in friendships between the original out-group and in-group

Question 4

What does the “Robbers cave study” show?

Answer 4

The impact of superordinate goals

Question 5

What does the realistic conflict theory propose?

Answer 5

That conflict between groups isn’t based on something irrational but on actual need for resources. Direct competition for scarce resources breeds hostility between groups which can lead to discrimination and negative beliefs and stereotypes.

Question 6

How does RCT suggest prejudice can be reduced?

Answer 6

When a superordinate goal is introduced

Question 7

What is a superordinate goal?

Answer 7

A mutually desirable goal that cannot be obtained without participation of two or more groups

Question 8

Real-life examples of where RCT applies

Answer 8

• England v France football match in 2015
• Following the Paris attacks, British football fans joined together to sing the French national anthem at Wembley Stadium
• Despite the existing discrimination and negative stereotypes between the French and English, the shared superordinate goal of combating ISIS brought the groups together

Question 9

What is prejudice?

Answer 9

A negative attitude towards another group of person informed in advance of an experience

Question 10

3 supporting arguments - RCT

Answer 10

• Robbers Cave study - Sherif
• Ember
• Doty et al

Question 11

What study did Ember & Ember conduct? How does it support RCT?

Answer 11

• Ember studied other cultures
• They found that in tribal society hostility increases when social or natural conditions cause competition for resources
• For example, when famine occurs conflict and violence increases

Question 12

What is the Doty et al study? How does it support RCT?

Answer 12

• Found that US levels of authoritarianism varied in the late 1970s-1980s
• i.e - during the Cold War
• This is because of the perceived threat from external sources

Question 13

RCT weakness - failed superordinate goals

Answer 13

• Superordinate goals can’t always solve prejudice
  If the goal is not successfully completed, prejudice can increase, as each group blames their other for failure

Question 14

RCT weaknesses

Answer 14

• failed Superordinate goals
• John Duckitt

Question 15

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