https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7KU5u75J8VU

(Click the link to watch a visual)

Welcome back to another ‘Psychology Experiment’ blog! Today, I wanted to discuss an experiment that I wasn’t too familiar with myself. It also reminded me of the “Class Divided” experiment that I introduced weeks ago in a previous blog in which 2 groups were observed based upon their behaviors towards one another. 

In 1954 researchers Muzafer and Carolyn Sherif decided to conduct an experiment at the University of Oklahoma to study the development of group conflict.  A total of 22 young males (approximately aged 11-12 years old) with similar class and intelligence were arranged into 2 different groups. Each group was taken to their own summer camp area within the same establishment. Over time, the little boys were able to build friendships and bonds within their group —completely unaware about each other’s group. This secret went on for an entire week! Imagine not knowing about another group’s existence at the same summer camp facility. Soon after, both groups were allowed to have contact with each other. When introduced to each other, hostility and discriminatory acts were revealed between the young males.

Let’s look at how the researchers organized the experiment over a span of 3 weeks:

Stage 1 (Group Formation):

This stage was included as a way of identifying distinctive individuals within their own groups. For example each group engaged in activities such as hiking and swimming. Immediately, roles were assigned and leaders were picked by both groups. To take things a step further, the groups even chose unique names for themselves. 

Stage 2 ( Intergroup competition):

This is the stage where the groups were finally able to meet. The goal of this specific stage is to observe the attitudes of the boys when forced to compete with one another. To increase the rivalry tension, a trophy was granted to the overall winning team from the activities. Verbal and physical attacks among each other became very common. 

Stage 3 ( Cooperation):

Finally, the last strategy consisted of both groups coming together to fix serious situations (ex: broken down supply truck, water supply shortage). In contrast from the previous stages, this final stage created harmony within the camp. New bonds initiated the desire to travel on the same bus together after the experiment was completed. 

These 3 combined stages helped prove that people can overcome prejudice conflicts with the help of cooperation. This was a classic social psychology experiment that revealed how inconvenient situations make people act aggressively.

Sources Used:

http://psychology.iresearchnet.com/social-psychology/social-psychology-experiments/robbers-cave-experiment/

https://www.thoughtco.com/robbers-cave-experiment-4774987

https://www.simplypsychology.org/robbers-cave.html