realistic conflict theory

• realistic conflict theory explains prejudice through conflicts of interest between groups
• intergroup competition

  competitions between individuals from different groups - often over resources
• negative interdependence

  when both groups are seeking the same goal - can only be 1 winner and 1 loser so leads to out-group hostility and increase solidarity between the in-group
• limited resources

  specific physical and finite resources result in fiercest prejudice - struggle may be for scarce resources such as: food, territory but also symbolic resources such as: power and prestige
• positive interdependence

  when groups have to be reliant on each other to achieve a goal, prejudice can decrease - each group reliant on each other to be successful
• superordinate goals

  goals which can only be achieved through inter group cooperation - lead to increasingly favorable perceptions between groups and decrease prejudice
• strength

  • sherif robbers cave supports RCT that competition leads to prejudice
  • at the end of stage 2 boys were asked which boys they considered friends - most of their answers were people of their own group and called groups "stinkers" and "sneaky"
  • showing that negative interdependence competition increases prejudice
• weakness

  • research suggests that competition is not necessary for prejudice to occur
  • tajfel proves this as when bristol boys were placed into groups, they displayed prejudice by giving their own team higher points which were not limited and no prize given for a winner
  • therefore shows there does not need to be competition for prejudice