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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.
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.
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'
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.
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'.
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)
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.