Robbers Cave Experiment

The Robbers Cave experiment conducted by Muzafer Sherif and his colleagues took 22 5th grade boys with similar interests, backgrounds and qualities and separated them into teams of two and had them compete against each other for a prize (Kenrick, Neuberg, and Cialdini, 2010, p. 371). Each group of boys created a small community of sorts and each community developed its leaders, favorite activities and group names; The Eagles and The Rattlers. When the two groups were introduced to each other with the intent of competing for a prize animosity resulted. The two groups began to quarrel and fight and became fierce competitors. When the Eagles won the competition the Rattlers ransacked their cabin and stole their competition prize. When the two groups were asked to describe the other, both groups labeled the opposing group as being “sneaky, smart-alecky stinkers,” (Kenrick, Neuberg, and Cialdini, 2010, p. 371) while describing their own group in a positive light. Sherif concluded that, “People direct their hostilities toward those groups they see themselves competing with at the moment,” (Kenrick, Neuberg, and Cialdini, 2010, p. 371).

One model that outlines the cause and effect of Sherif’s Robbers Cave experiment is called the conflict-spiral model. The conflict-spiral model demonstrates an “escalation that results from a vicious circle of action and reaction. Because each reaction is more severe and intense than the action that precedes it, each retaliation or defensive action in the spiral provides a new issue or grievance,” (Maiese, 2003). We find an initial cause to begin a conflict which in the Robbers Cave experiment was the boys competing for the prize. Once the conflict began the Eagles and Rattlers began acting more aggressively in which the Eagles aggression triggered the Rattlers to act more aggressively. Once the Rattlers reacted to the Eagles, the Eagles in turn reacted with even more aggression towards the Rattlers and thus the spiral-conflict began.

History provides endless accounts of the real-world application of the concepts demonstrated in the Robbers Cave experiment. For example: the Potsdam Conference was an allied meeting between three political leaders; U.S. President Harry S. Truman, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin. The goal of the conference was mostly to begin taking action on decisions made at the Yalta Conference in regards to the administration of Germany after surrendering in World War II. In the case of the Potsdam Conference, three political leaders with opposing ideas of how major issues should be handled at the end of WWII came together to negotiate a resolve (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2011). Another great example is the events leading up to the Civil Rights Movement. This would be an ideal example of the conflict-spiral model mentioned above. The initial conflict was over African Americans gaining equal and non-segregated rights. As the conflict grew, so did the measures of intensity in the fight, eventually leading to some cases in which taking out members of the out group, such as the murder of Emmett Till, resulted (The Leadership Conference on Human and Civil Rights, 2011).

Sources

Kenrick, D., Neuberg, S., and Cialdini, R. (2010) Social Psychology: Goals in Interaction, 5th edition. Boston: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon

Maiese, M. (2003) What is Conflict Escalation? Boulder, CO: Beyond Intractability.

Encyclopedia Britannica. (2011) Potsdam Conference. Chicago, IL: Encyclopedia Britannica.

The Leadership Conference on Human and Civil Rights. (2011) Civil Rights Chronology. Washington, DC: The Leadership Conference on Human and Civil Rights.