Realistic Conflict Theory - Sherif 1966

Question 1

What are the claims of realistic conflict theory?

Answer 1

Prejudice is caused by intergroup conflict/competition - prejudice and hostility intensify when two or more groups strive for the same goal.

Realistic conflict is thought to arise between two groups only when they are of equal status.

Prejudice more likely if the resource is finite or zero-sum (one winner, one loser)

Prejudice can be reduced using the principles of shared goals (superordinate goals)

Question 2

What are the components of realistic conflict theory?

Answer 2

Limited (finite) resources

Negative interdependence

Conflict of interests

Intergroup relationships

Positive interdependence

Question 3

What are limited (finite) resources?

Answer 3

Can be physical (e.g. food, territory) or symbolic (e.g. political power, prestige and authority)

Highest levels of prejudice and discrimination occur in situations of competition for physical and finite resources (e.g. specific strip of land)

Lower levels if compromise is possible or when the commodity is more subjective.

Question 4

What is negative interdependence?

Answer 4

Two groups seek to achieve a goal important to both of them, but only one can reach that goal (zero sum).

Question 5

What is ‘conflict of interests’?

Answer 5

Negative - Each group acts to obstruct the other groups achievement.

Interdependent - ‘one groups’ win is contingent on the other groups loss.

Question 6

What is intergroup relationships?

Answer 6

Intergroup relations refers to the way in which people who belong to social groups or categories perceive, think about, feel about, and act towards and interact with people in other groups.

Deteriorate in situations of negative interdependence

Interactions with people in the other group become antagonistic and hostile.

Interactions with own group become more cooperative (more solidarity)

Question 7

What can positive interdependence and superordinate goals do?

Answer 7

Positive interdependence and superordinate goals can reduce prejudice.

Question 8

How can prejudice arising from intergroup conflict be reduced?

Answer 8

Prejudice arising from intergroup conflict can be reduced by groups working cooperatively to achieve a common goal.

Question 9

When does positive interdependence occur?

Answer 9

Positive interdependence occurs in situations where neither group can reach it’s goals unless the other group also reaches theirs.

Question 10

When can superordinate goals be achieved?

Answer 10

Superordinate goals can only be achieved through the cooperation of both groups.

Question 11

What are the strengths/supporting evidence of realistic conflict theory?

Answer 11

Ember and Ember (1992)

Sherif’s Robbers Cave experiment

Aronson et al (1978) - useful applications

Question 12

What are the weaknesses/refuting evidence of realistic conflict theory?

Answer 12

Tyerman and Spencer (1983)

Cultural differences

Question 13

Why is Ember and Ember supporting evidence for realistic conflict theory?

Answer 13

Ember and Ember observed that in tribal societies intergroup hostility increases when social or natural conditions mean that competition for resources are necessary

Question 14

Why is Sherif’s Robbers Cave experiment supporting evidence for realistic conflict theory?

Answer 14

Sherif’s Robbers Cave experiment found that competition increased hostility between the two groups of boys

Question 15

Why is Aronson et al supporting evidence for realistic conflict theory?

Answer 15

Can be applied to real life by helping reduced prejudice between groups in society through use of superordinate goals

Aronson introduced competition in classrooms where competition was rife 
Using the jigsaw method where students were divided into small groups that had to succeed in one group task to ensure the success of overall class project, they found levels of competition decreased

Question 16

Why is Tyerman and Spencer refuting evidence for realistic conflict theory?

Answer 16

Tyerman and Spencer didn’t observe inter-group conflict in a scout group in the UK when there was competition for scarce resources

They suggested this may be due to the fact that the scout group already had superordinate goals

Question 17

Why is the fact that cultural differences aren’t taken into account a weakness of realistic conflict theory?

Answer 17

The assumption is that competition for scarce resources will always result in prejudice and conflict

However, in some collectivistic cultures such as China, values such as cooperation are more important than competition