Sherif et al. (1954): Realistic Conflict Theory:

Question 1

What does RCT state?

Answer 1

Situational explanation of prejudice that claims competition for a limited resource is the main cause of conflict between groups.

Question 2

Why does scapegoating occur?

Answer 2

Scapegoating occurs when a group is blamed for all the problems in society which leads them to be discriminated against.

Question 3

What can be used to reduce conflict?

Answer 3

Superordinate goals can be used as they are mutually desirable goals that need intergroup cooperation to be achieved.

Question 4

Supporting Evidence: Sherif et al:

Answer 4

I: Found that creating competition between the Rattlers and Eagles such as tug of war was enough to cause prejudice such as name calling.
J: This supports RCT as a way of explaining as its causes by competition between groups in society.

Question 5

Supporting Evidence: Ember and Ember:

Answer 5

I: Found that in some tribal societies threat of famine, natural disasters (e.g. floods) and food shortages correlated with intensity of intergroup hostility and warfare.
J: This supports RCT as it suggests that people may go to war to take scarce resources from perceived enemies to protect themselves against future disasters.

Question 6

Critical Evidence: Levine:

Answer 6

I: Found that football fans are more likely to help an injured stranger who tripped in front of them when wearing colours of their team shirt they supported (in-group) as opposed to neutral or those of a rival team shirt (out-group).
J: This shows that competition is not always necessary to create prejudice and just belonging to a group is enough.

Question 7

Critical Evidence: Adorno et al:

Answer 7

I: Found that those with an authoritarian personality were more likely to be hostile to people not in their group who are considered to be of an inferior status.
J: This suggests that realistic conflict theory is not a full explanation of prejudice, as it only focuses on competition and not personality in its explanation of prejudice.

Question 8

Conclusion of RCT:

Answer 8

Overall, this theory is useful as it shows how we can reduce conflict between groups with the use of superordinate goals.

But this theory is less useful because its reductionist as it doesn’t have many components which makes it not a full explanation of prejudice.