Robber’s Cave Study

Question 1

What was the aim of this study?

Answer 1

To investigate the effects of competition on prejudice.

Question 2

Who were the participants?

Answer 2

24 boys of about 12 years of age from similar low middle-class, Protestant backgrounds.

Question 3

Procedure (stage 1 - group formation)

Answer 3

The boys were randomly separated into two groups unbeknownst to each other. For the first few days of the experiment they did team-building exercises (such as camping, making flags, hiking) and established their group identities, Rattlers and Eagles.

Question 4

Procedure (stage 2 - negative interdependence)

Answer 4

The groups were then introduced to each other, both groups expressed an interest in competing against each other. The experimenters coordinated baseball games, treasure hunts and tug-of-war. Giving the winners a prize every time, including pocketknives. This lead to hostility and names being called e.g. ‘Pigeons’, razzing and hazing the losers

Question 5

Procedure - (stage 3 - reducing friction)

Answer 5

The superordinate goals were introduced, e.g. fixing broken water tank and pump, broken down truck needed a push to start; pooling tokens to pay for a film they all wanted to see; each task required positive interdependence, working towards an urgent goal which required team work.

Question 6

What were the findings of this study?

Answer 6

• When in competition, the boys behave more aggressively towards each other
• Boys mainly considered only people in their group as friends, having positive attitudes within their group, and negative attitude to those outside of it (prejudice)
• When working together to fix the water tank, friendliness increases

Question 7

What was the conclusion of this study?

Answer 7

Competition can lead to more prejudiced behaviour, but cooperative behaviour can reduce the prejudice

Question 8

Strength of this study.

Answer 8

A strength of the study is that the boys were carefully matched.

The researchers spent time matching the two groups. Meaning the two groups of boys were as similar to each other as possible, in terms of personality, skills, athletic ability and interests.

There were very little differences between the groups to begin with, and no pre-existing group identities, therefore the prejudice that developed must have been a direct outcome of the competition.

However, two of the boys in one group had to leave due to homesickness, this could mean one group was more bonded than the other. Therefore, this extraneous variable might have influenced prejudice, cannot conclude it was solely caused by competition.

Question 9

Weakness of this study.

Answer 9

A weakness is there may be a lack of population validity.

The participants were 24 middle class, white, protestant boys from USA around 12 years old.

The findings of increased prejudice due to competition may not be applicable to other cultures or groups of women as it might be unique to their social group.