Robber Cave Experiment: Realistic Conflict Theory - Bonding, Integration, Reducing Friction Stage YouTube Lecture Handouts

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Robber Cave Experiment: Realistic Conflict Theory - Bonding, Integration, Reducing Friction Stage

  • Social psychologist Muzafer Sherif and Carolyn Wood Sherif conducted experiment named as Robber՚s Cave experiment in 1954. The subjects of the experiment were camp personnel who never had met before. There were 22 participants of eleven and twelve-year-old in support of this theory.
  • Superordinate goals – mutually desirable goals that cannot be obtained without participation of 2 or more groups – 1 searched it 1st; we need to work together

Robber Cave Experiment by Sherif

Bonding Stage

Sherif introduced the groups to each other and arranged for competitive games and other conflicts between the groups. For example, one of the competitive games required the Eagles and the Rattlers to play each other in a baseball game. The winning group received a trophy and individual medals for the group members, while the losing group received nothing.

Competition Stage

  • Sherif began to notice that the groups were calling each other names and teasing each other. However, as the competitive games continued, the groups became increasingly hostile. For example, the Eagles set the Rattlers՚ flag on fire and the Rattlers destroyed the Eagles՚ cabin.
  • Eventually, the groups became so hostile with one another that they had to be physically separated. Participants were well cultured people and not criminals – once conflict and competition were introduced their behavior became discriminatory and hostile

Reducing Friction Stage

  • Input – effort, skills, flexibility loyalty
  • Output – financial compensation, praise and recognition, responsibility, job security

Manishika