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Unit 2 Psychology AOS 1

Robber's Cave Experiment

Sherif (1954)

Stage 3: Reducing hostility and prejudice

Stage Three aimed at resolving the conflict.

This stage was completed in two parts:

(these 2 parts are our other 2 conditions)

Non-competitive activities were attempted, such as watching movies while eating together in the mess hall.

This contact failed. The two groups stayed separated, jeered at each other or engaged in food fights.

1. Neutral situations

2. Cooperative situations

Task!

To build peace, it was necessary to induce co-operation towards shared goals.

A series of urgent problems was devised, which the boys could solve only by working together.

The camp's water was cut, for example, and staff announced a possible leak in the supply pipe. The boys had to inspect the 1.6km pipe, and finally discovered a clogged valve at the tank. They rejoiced together when the problem had been fixed.

On another occasion, they had to join forces to start a truck which had broken down.

Complete Learning Activity 1: Research Evaluation (Sherif, 1954)

In interpreting these results, one must be careful to remember that no single experiment can establish by itself a principle of broad generalisability.

Furthermore, the conditions of Sherif's experiment differed markedly from the conflict-torn situations in the real world.

The conclusion, however, is that co-operation on shared goals is of vital importance in resolving conflict peacefully.

Results

Stage 2: Development of hostility

By the time the third stage had ended the boys had become reconciled, and even asked to go back to the city on the same bus.

Hostility had disappeared, and the boys viewed each other as one large group, and no longer as 'us and them'

So what did he do?

Stage Two amplified the competition between the young 'warriors'. The staff announced a series of contests, including baseball games, tugs-of war and counsellor-judged events such as cabin inspections. The scoring was manipulated to keep the two teams close, thereby heightening the sense of competition.

This 'competition' is the first experimental condition for the aim we are investigating.

Although they were unaware of it, Sherif had divided the boys into two groups of that were approximately equal in athletic ability and camping experience.

He arranged experiences that would amplify, and then resolve, destructive conflict between them.

The study was conducted in 3 stages of roughly 1 week each.

Stage 1: Formation of the 'in-group'

In the first stage, each group lived in its own cabin and had no knowledge of the other's presence in the park.

Each group developed its own swimming hole and hideouts and co-operated in activities such as pitching tents, preparing meals, hiking and treasure hunts.

During this stage, each spontaneously developed its own rules, leadership and identity. One group called itself the 'Rattlers', the other boys dubbed themselves the 'Eagles'.

'US' and 'THEM'

As stage 1 moved into stage 2, each group was made aware of the other's presence in the camp.....

- hearing the other's voices or seeing cups left behind.

Strong territorial reactions, such as 'they'd better not be in our swimming hole', were the result.

There was an immediate division between 'us' and 'them'.

A classic experiment conducted in the 1950s on building positive inter group relations, conducted by psychologist Muzafer Sherif.

Named 'Robber's Cave' as it took place at Robber's Cave State Park in Oklahoma (USA)

This classic study of intergroup conflict and cooperation demonstrated how groups strongly favor their own members (ingroup bias), and how intergroup conflict can be resolved by the groups working together on a common task that neither group can complete without the help of the other group.

Take 24 white, middle-class, 11 and 12 year-old boys who did not know each other, send them on a 'summer camp experience' at the Robber's Cave State Park in Oklahoma (USA), and what do you get?

A remake of William Golding's 'Lord of the Flies'?

No. Rather, a powerful lesson in peace building.

Sherif set up an environment of opposing groups to enable him to conduct an experiment investigating the level of prejudice across competitive, neutral and cooperative situations.

* Please note...

Sherif essentially investigated TWO ideas in this study!

In setting up the basis for the experiment that we are interested in, he also investigated how negative attitudes and behaviors arise between groups due to competition over limited resources

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