In 1954, researchers at the University of Oklahoma were experimenting on intergroup conflict and co-operation. They selected twenty-two twelve-year-old boys and split them randomly into two groups of eleven. The two groups were balanced based on physical, mental, and social ability. Neither group knew that the other group existed. The individual groups were picked up by a bus and transported to a Boys Scouts camp in Robbers Cave State Park. The researchers went along as camp counselors.

Once at the camp, the groups were kept separate and went through team-building exercises to form social norms, leadership, and group structure. Each team chose their team name and were encouraged to bond in pursuit of cooperative discussion and action.

After five days of team bonding, the two groups were introduced to one another and put against one another in competitive games and challenges. The games were purposely chosen to frustrate the teams and the winners were given prizes. After five days of this, the teams became so aggressive towards one another that the researchers had to separate them. The researchers proceeded to individually ask the boys questions about the two teams. The boys’ answers tended to talk highly of their own team and lowly of the opposing team, clearly showing that conflict can cause prejudice and discrimination.

For the remaining six days, the researchers attempted to lessen the tension between the two groups. Fun activities such as watching movies and setting off firecrackers did not bring the two teams together like the researchers had hoped. So, the researchers made teamwork exercises where the two teams were forced to collaborate. After several problem-solving activities with superordinate goals, there was much less intergroup conflict. The researchers concluded that through cooperation, conflict and prejudice can be overcome.

The results of this experiment and their application to the real world could be criticized due to the lack of diversity in the participants (all white middle-class boys). However, I still feel that many of us have seen similar effects of conflict in our everyday lives. For example, the first thing that comes to my mind is the drastic political divide of our nation. Sometimes when we deliberate and take sides on political issues, we fail to see it as a collaborative task where the end goal is to make the world better. People often make harsh judgments towards people of the opposite political party and tend to see their ideas as superior. However, if we eliminate the competitiveness and divide caused by ideological differences, we can see that everyone just wants what is best for the nation. Cooperation between political parties could possibly lessen political tension and in turn, allow for more effective decision-making.