Realistic Conflict Theory Flashcards
(11 cards)
What is an ingroup?
a group we affiliate with, eg, same culture or interests.
What is an outgroup?
Any group we do not associate with.
What is intergroup conflict?
Tension or violence between two or more groups competing for the same limited resource.
E.g., racve riots, as white people believed that black americans were trying to ‘steal their jobs’.
What is Zero-Sum game?
There can only be one winner of a limited resource.
e.g., competition trophy.
What are superordinate goals?
Mutually desireable goals that will benefit both groups.\, having them both work together to reach a goal they will benefit from E.g., two separate football teams raising money for a local charity.
What is selfishness?
This theory reduces all prejudice down to the innate human desire to be selfish for survival.
What is supporting evidence for RCT?
Sherif et. al - when posed with competition the boys began to show signs of intergroup conflict e.g., burning flags, raids, etc.
They used superordinate goals to decrease this and were actively seeking out time together.
Ember et al (1981) intergroup conflict increases when food resources were running low. Suggests ZSG.
What is conflicting evidence for RCT?
Adorno suggests that RWA personalities need heirarchy so are more likely to be prejudice to those they deem ‘below’ them. RCT ignores personality factors - reductionist.
Cohrs et. al (2012) Says RWA personality massively correlated with prejudice.
What is another theory to RCT?
Social Impact theory may be more holistic as it suggests 3 separate stages to prejudice.
OTOH, RCT may be more holistic as it suggests a solution (Superordinate Goals) Whereas SIT does not.
What is the usefulness of RCT?
Proposes a solution for reducing prejudice which can be useful for low-level prejudice such as school team rivalry or football hooliganism.
What is the Testability of RCT?
Cannot empirically test
OTOH, Sherif gathered sociometric data, observations, interviews - triangulation of data of the boys’ behaviour.
