Robbers Cave experiment - Sherif

• What was the aim of sheriffs study?

  To explore how competition and frustration can lead to stereotyping and prejudiced attitudes towards an out-group and increase in group solidarity and cooperation
• What is the procedure of sheriffs study?

  > sample - 22 children (11-12 yrs), middle class, Protestant, similar educational level

  > stages - in group formation , friction phase, integration phase

  > filed experiment

  > parental and GP consent
• What happened in the in group formation?

  > groups were unaware of each other

  > bonded by doing activities like hiking

  > chose a team name

  > observed relationships

  > 2 boys left due to feeling homesick
• What happened in the friction phase?

  (4-6 days)

  > games that involved competition were they won medals or pocket knives

  > Rattlers burned eagles flag

  > children had to be separated

  > became hostile
• What happened in the integration phase?

  > introduced activities with superordinate goals (Fix a water tank, help a food truck, contribute towards a film)

  > Became allies
• What were the results of the in-group formation phase (phase 1)?


  > Strong group identity

  > Social norms developed

  > Clear leader
• What were the results of the competition stage (stage 2)?

  > Name-calling after being introduced to each other

  > Antagonism

  > Derogatory comments and behaviour

  > 6.4% of Rattlers friends were Eagles

  > 7.5% of Eagles friends were Rattlers
• What were the results of the integration phase (stage 3)?

  > Became one group, bonded

  > 36.4% of Rattlers friends were Eagles

  > 23.2% of Eagles friends were Rattlers
• What was the conclusion of the Robber's cave experiment?

  > Groups develop status hierarchies and norms

  > Inter group competition leads to increased in-group favoritism and solidarity

  > Increased social conflict is not enough to reduce prejudice `
• What were the strengths of the Robbers cave experiment?

  > Teams had the same structure making them comparable, increasing reliability

  > Less demand characteristics
• What were the weaknesses of the Robbers cave experiment?

  > Not generalisable

  > Subjective