Sherif's Realist Conflict Theory

In 1949 and 1954 social psychologist Muzafer Sherif collaborated with graduate student to hold a series of experiments to test one of doctor Sherifs ideas know as the realist conflict theory. This theory has to do with in group conflict, stereotyping and prejudices. The most famous of and significant of his experiments was at Robbers Cave national park in 1954.
Doctor Sherifs main idea was that conflict arises between groups when they are competing for limited resources. His experiment involved 22 children between the ages of 11 and 12. None of these kids knew each other but all came from similar back grounds which were; White, middle class and Protestant. His experiment had three stages.
1. Bonding stage
2. Competition stage (friction stage)
Here at this stage the 2 Groups gave themselves a group name, the eagles and the rattles. Over time each group then developed their own cultures and cultural norms. The next stage was the competition stage, this lasted four to six days. In this stage there was to be friction between the two groups and they did this by setting up a range of different competitions. These competitions were made up of football, baseball, tug of war and touch football. The winners would receive a trophy and a pocket knife and the losing team would not receive any prize or trophy.
Overtime the rattlers developed a Norm of toughness and aggression and became very confident in their ability and success they went as far as putting up flags with the crest on them around the baseball field and would make threats to the other group if they tampered with these flags. Then the researchers set out and manipulated different situations where one group would gain at the cost of the other group. Then what started out next as verbal aggression between the 2 groups escalated very