Realistic conflict theory (SP)

Question 1

Sherif

Evaluate a strength of the study

Answer 1

I - Sherif’s Robbers cave study supports the RCT idea that competition leads to prejudice
J - In groups competed with each other e.g. tug of war, swimming and the groups heavily disliked each other which is proved through their actions of burning each others flags. there were also very few intergroup friendships
E - Therefore, highlighting how the change in behaviour demonstrates that competition leads to prejudice in an ecologically valid way

Question 2

Tajfel and turner

Evaluate a weakness of the study

Answer 2

I - However, there is research that suggests that competition is not necessary for prejudice to occur.
J - Tajfel and Turner found that even though there isn’t competition between the groups, the presence of another group was enough to cause prejudice between the boys to pick members from their own team to give the money to
E - Therefore, demonstrating how competition isn’t needed for prejudice to occur, by just being in different groups is enough to create bias against each other. Discrediting realistic conflict theory