Document Type

Book Chapter

Publication Date

4-25-2025

Keywords

group conflict, group formation, social psychology, Robbers Cave Experiment

Disciplines

Developmental Psychology

Abstract

In 1949, a group of social psychologists led by Muzafer Sherif began a series of experiments looking into the origin of group conflict and prejudice within groups of 1112 year old boys. Social psychologists had previously focused research on patterns of discrimination, conflict, and prejudice. However, few empirical investigations had been devoted to examining how these divisive thoughts and behaviors develop, and why. The goal of the project was to naturally create prejudice within controlled environments where no prejudice had existed before. The study also examined methods for eliminating prejudice once it had been created.

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