Realistic Conflict Theory

an explanation of prejudice which sees competition for limited resources as a key determinant of intergroup relations

- sherif suggested that the key to prejudice is competition in any form
- when 2 or more groups are striving for the same goal, prejudice and hostility will intensify

- Negative interdependence occurs in situations where two groups of people are both seeking to achieve a goal that is important for both of them, yet only one group can reach that goal
- The 'negative' aspect relates to the fact that each group will act to obstruct the other group's achievement. The 'interdependent"
aspect relates to to the fact that one group's win is contingent upon the other group's loss
- In situations of negative interdependence, intergroup relations will deteriorate
Interactions with members of the opposing group will become antagonistic and hostile,
while interactions between members of one's own group will become increasingly cooperative.
- Whether a person is perceived to be a collaborator or a competitor will become of prime importance in
determining whether they are to be treated favourably or with suspicion and hostility.

The struggle between the groups may be for scarce material or physical resources, such as
food and territory. It might also be for symbolic resources, such as political power, prestige
and authority.
- Situations involving competition for physical and finite resources
prejudice and discrimination and can result in the fiercest conflicts.
- However, if some form of compromise is possible or when the commodity is more subjective levels of prejudice and discrimination are much lower

- Sherif argued that prejudice that has arisen through intergroup conflict can be reduced through groups working cooperatively to accomplish a common goal.
- However, the key
factor is that the two groups must be interdependent - positive interdependence occurs in situations where neither group can reach
its goals unless the other group also reaches theirs.
- Sherif used the term superordinate goals to describe goals which can only be achieved
- leading to increasingly favourable perceptions of the opposing group
and harmonious intergroup interactions.
- The key is that the task could not be completed unless both groups
ie contributed

- a strength of RCT is that it is supported by Sherif et al's (1961) study.
- In stage 2 (friction) of the Robbers Cave experiment, the researchers created intergroup competition in the form of a sporting tournament where only one group could win and there were prizes for the winners and nothing for the losers.
- This was a situation of negative interdependence and the outcome was increased prejudice (6.4% of rattlers friends were eagles in stage 2 contrasting to 36.4% in stage 3)
- These findings demonstrate that competition does lead to intergroup
hostility and prejudice as the theory suggests.

- Although this is a field experiment and arguably has good ecological validity due to the naturalistic setting, the original paper
tells how the boys needed some serious provocation in order to trigger any explicit display of prejudice or discrimination.
- The experimenters had to
secretly raid one group's cabin to make it appear that the other group had attacked them. Thus intergroup competition did not lead to hostility.

- A weakness is that externally imposed competition between groups is not necessary to create prejudice
- Tajfel's (1970) minimal group experiment showed that prejudice, can arise from the simple act of perceiving someone as 'not like me', in this case on the basis of a very
trivial task of estimating the number of dots.
- This study shows that boys will treat others differently on the basis of information about group membership alone, suggesting that prejudice may be less about competition and more about our own knowledge of who we are
and our self-worth, which can be assessed through comparison with others.

The jigsaw technique in education

- intergroup competition / Sherif / CA
- negative interdependence / Tajfel
- limited resources /
- positive interdependence and superordinate goals / application