5 Minute History Lesson, Episode 3: Robbers Cave

Summary

In the 1950s, psychologists Muzafer and Carolyn Sherif conducted the famous Robbers Cave Experiment to test the Realistic Conflict Theory, exploring how competition for limited resources leads to prejudice and conflict. They divided 22 children into two groups, the Eagles and the Rattlers, and created a series of competitive activities. Tensions escalated into aggression, but when both groups worked together on common goals, such as fixing a water tank, their hostility diminished. The study demonstrated that cooperation toward shared objectives could reduce intergroup conflict and prejudice.

Takeaways

• 😀 Sherif and Carolyn Wood Sherif conducted experiments between 1949-1954 to test realistic conflict theory, focusing on intergroup conflict, stereotypes, and prejudices.
• 😀 The most famous experiment took place in 1954 at Robbers Cave State Park in Oklahoma with 22 children, aged 11-12, who had no prior knowledge of each other.
• 😀 The children involved in the experiment came from similar backgrounds: middle-class, white, and Protestant families.
• 😀 The experiment was divided into three stages: bonding, competition, and reducing friction.
• 😀 In the bonding stage, two groups were created (Eagles and Rattlers) who developed their own social norms through activities like swimming and hiking.
• 😀 The competition stage created friction between the groups through activities like baseball, tug-of-war, and touch football, with rewards given only to the winners.
• 😀 The Rattlers, who embraced aggression and toughness, escalated hostilities by making threats and vandalizing the Eagles’ belongings.
• 😀 The conflict intensified to physical altercations, with the researchers intervening to separate the children for safety.
• 😀 After the competition, a reducing friction phase was introduced, where the groups engaged in non-competitive activities, but Sherif argued that simple contact wasn’t enough to reduce hostility.
• 😀 The key to reducing conflict was finding common, superordinate goals. This included activities like pooling money for a movie and working together to fix a water supply issue, which ultimately led to the two groups working together as allies.

Q & A

What is the main idea behind Muzafer Sherif's realistic conflict theory?

The main idea of realistic conflict theory is that conflict arises between groups when they are competing for limited resources. This competition can lead to inner-group conflict, stereotypes, and prejudices.

Why is the Robbers Cave Experiment significant?

The Robbers Cave Experiment is significant because it successfully demonstrated how competition for limited resources can lead to conflict, prejudiced attitudes, and discriminatory behaviors. It also showed how common superordinate goals can reduce such conflict.

How many children participated in the Robbers Cave Experiment, and what were their backgrounds?

22 children between the ages of 11 and 12 participated in the experiment. All of them came from similar backgrounds: middle class, white, and Protestant. They did not know each other beforehand.

What were the three stages of the Robbers Cave Experiment?

The three stages of the Robbers Cave Experiment were: 1) The bonding stage, where groups were formed and encouraged to bond. 2) The competition stage, where groups competed against each other in various games. 3) The reducing friction stage, where common goals were introduced to reduce inter-group conflict.

What activities did the children engage in during the bonding stage?

During the bonding stage, the children were encouraged to engage in activities such as swimming and hiking. This allowed them to form their own groups, which they named 'The Eagles' and 'The Rattlers,' and develop their own social norms.

What types of competitions took place during the competition stage?

During the competition stage, the children participated in games such as baseball, tug-of-war, and touch football. The winners received prizes such as trophies, medals, and pocket knives, while the losers received no alternative rewards.

What led to the escalation of conflict between the groups during the competition stage?

The conflict escalated as the groups began to view each other as competitors for the prizes. Aggressive behaviors developed, including the Rattlers putting up flags to assert dominance, and the Eagles retaliating by burning the Rattlers' flag. Fistfights broke out, and the researchers had to intervene.

What was the outcome of the reducing friction period?

During the reducing friction period, the groups were brought together for non-competitive activities, such as watching a movie together and solving practical problems, like fixing a water tank. These activities helped the children work together, reducing their negative perceptions of each other and fostering cooperation.

What role did superordinate goals play in reducing conflict between the groups?

Superordinate goals, which are goals that both groups must work together to achieve, played a crucial role in reducing conflict. By having to cooperate on tasks like fixing the water supply and pulling a stuck truck, the children began to see each other as allies rather than enemies.

How did the experiment demonstrate the effectiveness of working together to reduce prejudice?

The experiment showed that while simple coexistence didn't eliminate prejudices, working together on common goals did. The children who had previously been enemies came to view each other as allies once they worked together towards a shared objective, demonstrating the power of cooperation in reducing prejudice and conflict.