Groups and group relations: cooperation and conflict1

Question 1

What is Social Identity Theory and why is it important in understanding group behavior?

Answer 1

Social Identity Theory, developed by Tajfel and Turner (1979), explains that **part of our self-concept comes from the groups we belong to **(our social identity). **To maintain positive self-esteem, we tend to favor our in-group **(those like us) and discriminate against out-groups (those not like us). Even arbitrary group assignments (minimal group paradigm) can cause in-group favoritism. This theory is crucial because it helps explain prejudice, group loyalty, and intergroup conflict in everyday social situations.

Question 2

What was the Robbers Cave Experiment and what does it show about intergroup conflict?

Answer 2

Conducted by Muzafer Sherif (1961), this field study placed boys in a summer camp and split them into two groups. Initially, the groups bonded internally. When placed in competitive situations, hostility and conflict emerged. **Later, superordinate goals (objectives requiring cooperation) reduced the hostility. **This supports **Realistic Conflict **Theory, showing that conflict arises from competition over scarce resources and that shared goals can reduce group tensions.

Question 3

What is groupthink and how does it affect decision-making in groups?

Answer 3

Groupthink (Janis, 1972) happens when the desire for harmony or consensus in a group overrides critical evaluation. Symptoms include:

Illusion of invulnerability

Suppression of dissent

Overconfidence in group morality
Famous example: the Bay of Pigs fiasco. Preventing groupthink requires encouraging disagreement, assigning a “devil’s advocate,” and welcoming outside opinions. It shows how group pressure can lead to poor decisions, even among intelligent individuals.