Social Psychology: Intergroup Cooperation

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary process by which individuals define themselves in relation to their group memberships?

Identification

What are the two forms of identity that overlay the interpersonal-intergroup continuum?

Personal identity and Social identity

What are the three levels of abstraction of self-categorization?

The subordinate level (personal self-categorizations), the ingroup-outgroup level (intermediate categorization), and the superordinate level (broader categorization, i.e., as a human being)

What is the process by which people attribute general psychological characteristics to large human groups?

Stereotyping Signup and view all the answers

What is the outcome when people perceive a correlation between a classification and a dimension of judgment?

They exaggerate the differences between the classes on that dimension and minimize the differences within the classes on that dimension Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the cognitive groupings of oneself and some class of stimuli as the same in contrast to some other class of stimuli?

Self-categorizations Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the process by which individuals derive a sense of self and belonging from their group memberships?

Social identity Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the process by which individuals categorize themselves and others into social groups?

Categorization Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary factor that contributes to the emergence of group-based behavior, according to the text?

Categorization alone Signup and view all the answers

What is the phenomenon where members of low-status groups display behaviors favoring members of the advantaged out-group over their own in-group?

In-group favoritism Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe the tendency for individuals to favor their in-group over out-groups, often leading to intergroup conflict?

Social identity theory Signup and view all the answers

What is the methodology used in the laboratory experiments to explore the necessary conditions for group processes?

Minimal groups paradigm Signup and view all the answers

What is the finding of the minimal groups experiment, in terms of intergroup behavior?

Relative in-group gain was the dominant intergroup choice Signup and view all the answers

What is the cognitive process proposed to underlie social categorization, according to the text?

Cognitive accentuation Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary conclusion drawn from the minimal groups experiments, in terms of group behavior?

Group-based behavior can occur in the absence of interdependence Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary factor that leads to prejudice and discrimination between groups, according to the Sherif boy's camp study?

Intergroup competition for limited and valued resources. Signup and view all the answers

What is the theoretical gap identified in the text, in terms of understanding group-based behavior?

The need to account for patterns of behavior in the absence of functional interdependence Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the process by which individuals categorize themselves and others based on group membership?

Social categorization. Signup and view all the answers

What is the phenomenon where individuals favor their in-group over out-groups, even when there is no apparent reason to do so?

In-group favoritism. Signup and view all the answers

According to social identity theory, what is the primary determinant of intergroup behavior?

Group membership and categorization. Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the minimal conditions necessary for group formation and intergroup conflict?

Minimal groups. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary limitation of the realistic conflict approach, according to critics?

It is more descriptive than explanatory. Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the idea that shared goals and cooperation between groups can reduce prejudice and discrimination?

Superordinate goals. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary factor that moderates the relationship between perceived conflict of interests and aggression, according to research?

Level of identification with one's own group. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Subjective Understandings of Group Membership

Through categorization, cognitive representations of individuals and groups are formed, including self-categorizations.
Identity takes two forms that overlay the interpersonal-intergroup continuum: personal identity (“I” & “Me”) and social identity (“We” & “Us”).

Identification and Self-Definition

Identification is the process of contextually based self-definition, which leads to behavior.
Cognitive representations of the self take the form of self-categorizations, which exist as part of a hierarchical system of classification.

Levels of Abstraction of Self-Categorization

There are at least three levels of abstraction of self-categorization:
- Subordinate level (personal self-categorizations)
- Ingroup-outgroup level (intermediate categorization)
- Superordinate level (broader categorization, i.e., as a human being)

Stereotyping

Stereotyping is the attribution of general psychological characteristics to large human groups.
It is a normal but faulty process, leading to exaggerated differences between groups and minimized differences within groups.

Key factors influencing cooperation:

Shared goals: when individuals or groups work towards a common objective, promoting unity and teamwork.
Clear boundaries: well-defined roles and responsibilities, reducing confusion and potential conflict.
Positive interactions: regular, open, and respectful communication among group members, fostering trust and cooperation.

Group Processes and Cooperation

Cooperation and hostility are consequences of factors largely external to individuals, not intra-psychic properties or perceptions based on interpersonal interactions.
A re-analysis of group processes involves categorization, laboratory experiments, and minimal groups.

Minimal Groups

Minimal groups are used to explore the necessary conditions for group processes, removing interdependence, conflict, and other factors.
Preferences for unknown abstract paintings are used to measure intergroup behavior.
Relative in-group gain is the dominant intergroup choice.

Conclusions

Group-based behavior can occur in the absence of interdependence.
Categorization alone can provide the basis of group behavior.
A theoretical vacuum exists in accounting for patterns of behavior in the absence of functional interdependence.

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Description

Explore the factors that influence cooperation between groups, including the impact of status, superordinate goals, and intergroup interactions. Understand how competition and conflict relate to cooperation.