Realistic Conflict Theory Overview

Questions and Answers

List 3 strengths of realistic conflict theory.

Ember and Ember supporting evidence, Robbers Cave experiment (Sherif) supporting evidence, Applicable to society (psychology in society).

Describe the Ember and Ember (1992) supporting evidence.

Ember and Ember observed that in some tribal societies during times of natural disasters, resources like food become a necessity leading to increased intergroup hostility.

Describe the Sherif Robbers Cave experiment (1954) supporting evidence.

Sherif demonstrated that competition increased hostility between two boys of equal status based on a summer camp where they competed in a tournament for a scarce resource. This led to discrimination, which was reduced after introducing superordinate goals.

Describe how realistic conflict theory is applicable to society.

Realistic conflict theory can be used in society to help reduce prejudice between two groups through the use of superordinate goals. Signup and view all the answers

List 3 weaknesses of realistic conflict theory.

Tyerman and Spencer (1983) refuting evidence, Doesn't take account of cultural differences in group behaviour (reductionism), Isolates competition as the key factor (reductionism). Signup and view all the answers

Describe the Tyerman and Spencer refuting evidence.

Tyerman and Spencer (1983) did not observe inter-group conflict in a scout group in the UK when there was competition for scarce resources. Signup and view all the answers

Describe how realistic conflict theory doesn't take account of cultural differences in group behaviour.

Realistic conflict theory does not take account of cultural differences in group behaviour. The assumption is that competition for scarce resources will always result in prejudice. However, in some collectivistic cultures like China, values like cooperation are more important than competition. Signup and view all the answers

Describe how realistic conflict theory isolates competition as the key factor.

Realistic conflict theory isolates competition as the key factor involved in creating prejudice and ignores other variables like the history of the groups, personality, and upbringing. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Strengths of Realistic Conflict Theory

Supported by Ember and Ember's findings that natural disasters can lead to increased intergroup hostility as resources become scarce.
The Robbers Cave experiment conducted by Sherif (1954) demonstrated that competition heightened hostility between two equally matched groups, highlighting the effects of resource competition.
The theory's principles can be applied to societal contexts to address and mitigate prejudice through the establishment of superordinate goals.

Ember and Ember (1992) Supporting Evidence

Observations in tribal societies revealed that during natural disasters, competition for limited resources like food can intensify hostility between groups.

Sherif's Robbers Cave Experiment (1954)

Conducted with two groups of boys at a summer camp, the experiment showed that competition for a scarce prize led to increased discrimination.
Hostility was resolved when superordinate goals were introduced, illustrating the potential for cooperation to reduce conflict.

Realistic Conflict Theory in Society

The theory can be utilized to foster understanding and cooperation between conflicting groups by implementing shared objectives that transcend group boundaries.

Weaknesses of Realistic Conflict Theory

Evidence from Tyerman and Spencer (1983) contradicted the theory, as no inter-group conflict was observed during competition among scouts in the UK for scarce resources.
The theory fails to consider cultural differences in group behavior, leading to reductionist conclusions about human interaction.
By focusing solely on competition as a cause of prejudice, the theory overlooks other important factors, such as the historical context of groups, individual personality traits, and personal upbringing.

Tyerman and Spencer Refuting Evidence

In their study, Tyerman and Spencer found that competition among a scout group did not result in inter-group conflict, challenging the applicability of the realistic conflict theory.

Cultural Considerations in Group Behavior

The theory tends to generalize that competition invariably causes prejudice, neglecting the influence of cultural factors.
In collectivistic cultures, such as China, cooperation is often prioritized over competition, suggesting that the dynamics of group interactions vary significantly across cultures.

Isolation of Competition as a Key Factor

Realistic conflict theory is criticized for its reductionist approach, as it singularly identifies competition as the root cause of prejudice while ignoring other influencing factors such as group history and individual backgrounds.

Description

This quiz explores the strengths of realistic conflict theory, including key examples like Ember and Ember's supporting evidence and the Robbers Cave experiment by Sherif. It also discusses the theory's applicability to society and psychology. Gain insights into how conflict arises from resource competition.