prejudice: realistic conflict theory (RCT) Flashcards
who developed RCT?
SHERIF as an explanation for Robbers Cave study
what did he suggest is is the key to prejudice?
INTERGROUP COMPETITION
EG. quiz, political power
If 2 or more groups are striving for same goal, hostility will intensify
what is the next component of his theory?
NEGATIVE INTERDEPENENCE
what is negative interdependence?
Where 2 groups are seeking a goal important to both of them, but can only be achieved by 1
Creates: ‘conflict of interests’
‘Negative’= each group will act to block other
‘Interdependent’= one groups win is reliant on ones loss
what happens where there is negative interdependence?
Intergroup relationships will deteriorate
Interactions with opposing group- hostile and antagonistic
inside group- cooperative and increase in solidarity
what can increase prejudice?
LIMITED RESOURCES
EG. struggle for physical material or symbolic resources (power)
Physical resources (land)- often lead to high levels of prejudice and fiercest conflict
BUT, if theres compromise, discrimination can be lower
how can prejudice be reduced?
and what do they mean?
POSITIVE INTERDEPENDENCE AND SUPERORDINATE GOALS
PI- situations where neither group can achieve goal unless other group achieves theirs
SG- achieved through intergroup cooperation
how do these 2 things reduce prejudice?
Intro of goals can lead to increasingly favourable perceptions of opposing group and harmonious intergroup interactions
KEY- tasks can’t be completed without both groups contributing
supporting evidence?
ROBBERS CAVE EXPERIMENT
-created intergroup competition where only one group could win (negative interdependence)
OUTCOME- escalation of violence and increased prejudice
SO,
competition does lead to hostility and prejudice
BUT..?
Field experiment - good ecological validity
BUT,
boys needed serious provocation to trigger explicit display of discrimination
Exp had to raid one groups cabin to make it appear like they were attacked by others
weakness?
COMPETITION MAY NOT BE NECESSARY
Tajfels experiment showed prejudice can arise from simple acts > ‘not like me’
SHOWS,
boys will treat others different on basis of info about group membership alone
SO,
prejudice may be less about competition and more about own knowledge of our self worth
application?
REDUCING PREJUDICE
Introducing superordinate goals to enhance intergroup relations
Discrimination is major problem in modern world and survival of planet depends on diverse group of people working together
EG. Paris Agreement on climate change
ISUUES AND DEBATES
PSYCHOLIGY AS A SCIENCE
Must be falsifiable to be scientific
RCT produces testable hypothesis - ‘levels of prejudice lower before engaging in superordinate tasks’
> allows disproof
Adds to credibility to expl and claims about how prejudice may be reduced
