Robbers Cave Experiment

• Who conducted it?

  Sherif et al (1954/1961)
• AIM

  • Explore how competition and frustration of a group's goals can lead to stereotyping and prejudiced attitudes towards an outgroup.
• Sample

  • 22 middle class, protestant, 11 year old boys from Oklahoma, USA.
  • None knew each other.
  • All socially and emotionally well adjusted.
• Stage 1 - Group Formation

  • Boys took part in non competitive activities to bond with group.
  • e.g. Canoeing, Tent Pitching, Building campfires.
  • 2 Eagles went home due to homesickness.
• Stage 2 - Friction

  • Groups found out about each other.
  • The researchers created a tournament with prizes, medals and a trophy.
  • Contests = tug of war, baseball, tent pitching.
  • Extra points awarded for cabin inspections, treasure hunt and comedy sketches.
• Stage 3 - Reducing Friction

  • Increasing social contact. (watching movie together/eating)
  • Superordinate goals introduced - (mending a broken water supply/ starting a broken down truck)
• FINDINGS STAGE 1

  • Rattlers were tough and swore a lot.
  • Eagles cried when injured and did not swear.
• FINDINGS STAGE 2

  • Wanted to do a baseball contest - Hostility developed rapidly.
  • Trashing each other's cabins, burning others flags.
  • 6.4% of Rattlers friends were Eagles.
  • 7.5% of Eagles friends were rattlers.
• FINDINGS STAGE 3

  • After fixing water supply, groups were insulting again.
  • After truck activity, the boys made dinner together and hostility was greatly reduced.
  • 36.4% of rattlers friends were eagles.
  • 23.2% of eagles friends were rattlers.
• CONCLUSIONS

  • Intergroup competition leads to increased ingroup favouritism, solidarity and outgroup hosility.
  • Increased social contact is not enough to reduce prejudice, but a series of superordinate goals can reduce prejudoice.