Social: Classic Study - Sherif et al. (1954-61)

Question 1

What was the 1st aim?

Answer 1

See if creating conflict between in-group and out-group’s causes prejudice.

Question 2

What was the 2nd aim?

Answer 2

See if setting goal for 2 groups to co-operate with would reduce prejudice.

Question 3

Sample of the study?

Answer 3

22 boys ‘typical’ of their age (12), sex (male) and race (white).

Question 4

What groups were the boys split into?

Answer 4

Randomly split: 11 in “rattlers” (tough guys), 11 in “eagles” (polite guys).

Question 5

How long did they stay and where?

Answer 5

3 weeks at Robber’s Cave State Park, Oklahoma.

Question 6

What were the 3 phases of the study?

Answer 6

1. In-group formation
2. Friction
3. Integration

Question 7

In-group formation phase?

Answer 7

• Lasted 1 week.
• Each group given tasks (e.g. treasure hunt with $10 reward).
• Gave their groups names, discovered existence of other group;
  
  • Immediately requested baseball game with other group.

Question 8

Results of formation phase?

Answer 8

Little encouragement to be comp. Resorted to “us-and-them” language and wanted baseball match.

Question 9

Friction phase?

Answer 9

Tournament between groups (e.g. baseball, tug-of-war, scavenger hunt, bean counting) - trophy, knives, medals for winners.

Question 10

Results of friction phase?

Answer 10

• Name-calling (e.g. “sissy’s”).
• Burned eachother’s flags.
• R’s second flag destroyed, so raided E’s cabins stealing comics and overturning beds.
• E’s raided and destroyed with bats.
• E’s won tournament, but R’s stole prizes.
• Met for fight, but counsellors intervened.

Question 11

Integration phase?

Answer 11

Brought 2 groups together:

• “Mere contact”; allowing group dinners and films - made things worse.
• “Superordinate goals”; boys had to fix water pipe together, had to push truck out of mud together, pitched tents with missing parts - reduced hostility.

Question 12

Results of integration phase?

Answer 12

• “Mere contact” turned into name calling and food-fights.
• “Superordinate” produced cooperation.
• Rattlers shared $5 they’d won to buy soft drinks for everyone.

Question 13

What were outgroup friendships at the end of friction and integration phase?

Answer 13

• Friction: R’s = 6.4%, E’s = 7.7%.
• Integration: R’s = 36.4%, E’s = 23.2%.