Sherif et al (1954/1961) classic study Flashcards
What was the aim of the study?
The focal concern of this study is intergroup relations. As an experiment in social psychology, it undertakes to trace over a time period the formation of negative and positive attitudes of members of one group toward another group and its members as a consequence of an experiment.
What was the procedure?
Experimenters took 24 boys of about 12 years of age from similar lower middle-class, Protestant backgrounds and were brought to an isolated camp-site (Robbers Cave) wholly available for the experiment.
Stage 1 : Team Buildings
The boys are split into two groups of 12. For the first few days, with the help of the experimenters and staff they started to develop a group identity. They did activities such as organising equipment for hiking, teaching each other how to swim, camping together and coming up with traditions and making flags. The boys also formed informal social hierarchies and roles within their groups, helping form their group identities. The boys named their groups, “Rattlers” and “Eagles”.
Stage 2: Inter group competition
Previously unknown to each other, the experimenters then informed the boys that there is another group at the camp-site. The boys expressed a desire to compete with the other groups in competitive events. Making flags and mottos for their teams before meeting each other. These included games of baseball, treasure hunts and tug-of-war. At the end of each event, there were rewards for the victors (such as pocket knives) and nothing for the losers.
Stage 3: Cooperation
The purpose of this stage is to ease the very real friction between the two groups. The Eagles, especially, were dead set against participating in any activity which had anything whatsoever to do with the Rattlers. In an early morning swim that day, the Eagles had discovered their flag in the water, burned the previous evening by the Rattlers. Upon making this discovery, they denounced the Rattlers as “dirty bums,” The experimenters had the boys do activities such as eat together, watch movies together and shoot off fireworks together on the 4th of July. However, activities where the boys had to work together, such as fixing up a water tank, making a new campsite together and doing a tug-of-war against a truck seems to ease relations. At the end of the camp, the Rattlers invited the Eagles to their home base. Together they started a campsite and took turns doing what each group wanted.
What were the findings?
During stage 1, groups were seen to form their group identities, developing attachments to their groups, establishing their own cultures and group norms.
At the end of stage 2, the boys were asked to rate which of the boys they considered friends. In table 1 you can see that the boys preferred their own groups much more. This is a showing of prejudice.
The groups also considered the other group to be “stinkers” and “sneaky”, whereas they considered their own group to be “brave”, “tough” and “friendly”. Again demonstrating prejudiced opinions towards the other group
At the end of stage 3, the experimenters again asked the boys who they would consider their friends in the camp like at the end of stage 2
At this point, the boys considered more of the other group as friends. Showing a reduction in prejudice.
What was the conclusion?
When separate groups are in competition, they will become unfriendly and begin to demonstrate prejudice.
This prejudice could be seen in the fact/behaviour that not many of them considered members of the other groups friends nor did they interact much.
This study also shows however this prejudice can be reduced with cooperative goals and activities.
Evaluate a strength of the study
I - A strength of the study is that the boys were carefully matched.
J - The researchers spent time (300 hours) 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.
E - This means that there was no pre-existing group identity in the groups. The group identity and subsequent prejudice was a direct result of the competition the groups were in
Evaluate a weakness of the study
I - A weakness is that the circumstances that cause prejudice might be more specific than Sherif’s study suggests
J - Tyerman and Spencer (1983) conducted a similar experiment with their sea scout troops. These boys all knew each other, as compared to Sherif’s groups, who were complete strangers. Over the course of a two week camp, there was no increase in the prejudice or ill will between the groups after competitions
E - This suggests that competition only elicits hostility and prejudice only if the groups are unfamiliar with each other
