sherif-classic Flashcards
sherif aim
To test the development of in-group behaviour to include related out-group hostility (through
competition) and how this can be reduced (using a super-ordinate goal).
sherif sample
22 boys aged 11 from Protestant Oklahoma families – they were matched on IQ, sporting
ability.
sherif method
Phase 1: In-group formation: They were placed in a summer camp in Robbers Cave, Oklahoma
where they were divided into two groups - the groups did not know about one another at this point.
* Spent a week bonding as a group.
* There were 4 measures throughout- Observation, Sociometric data, experiments and audio
recording.
* Phase 2: friction phrase: began where they discovered each other and competitions were set up between them.
* The boys wanted to play baseball and the researchers introduced the ‘counting beans’ task, tug-of-war and scavenger hunting for attractive prizes, such as penknives.
* Phase 3: integration phase: This stage was designed to reduce the tension between the groups.
* They were given several superordinate goals (fixing water supply, chipping in to pay for movie, fixing broken down camp truck) where they had to work together to achieve a result.
sherif results
- Phase 1: Each group was given a name – Eagles and Rattlers, to further help strengthen their group identity. They maintained social control through ostracism and ridicule.
- Phase 2: The tournament started in good spirits, but soon the boys were calling each other terrible names like ‘cheat’, ‘stinker’ or ‘sneak’. Soon after, name-calling, scuffles and ‘raids’ (e.g. stealing the other team’s flag and setting fire to it), became commonplace.
- Phase 3: By the end of camp, boys were ‘actively seeking opportunities to mingle, entertain and treat each other’. The boys also made far fewer negative ratings of the opposing group.
sherif conclusion
C: Superordinate goals can help relieve prejudice in competing groups. Prejudice occurs due to competition for scarce resources.
