RSW 2

1
RSW 2

• Inter-group Contact Inter-group Conflict
• Dr. Eve Binks

2
Last Week

• Social Identity Theory
• Self-Categorisation Theory
• In-Groups and Out-Groups
• In-Group Loyalty
• Optimal Distinctiveness Model
• Social Mobility, Social Creativity Social Change

3
Inter-group Contact

• Out-group prejudice arises from in-group
  favouritism
• Inadequacy of assumption that in-group membership
  preceded inter-group hostility and inter-group
  conflict
• Lack of attention to other psychological
  mechanisms
• Sumners (1906) Theory of Ethnocentrism
• Common characteristic of human social groups
• Us peace, law and order
• Them war, deception

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Ethnocentrism
In-group
Out-group
Hinkle Brown (1990) - No conclusive negative
correlation between in-group positivity and
negative out-group attitudes
Hostility contempt
Solidarity attachment
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Sumner (1906)

• Ethnocentrism consists of 4 components
• Social Categorisation Principle
• Human groups organised into discrete in- and
  out-group categories
• In-group Positivity Principle
• Positive evaluation of the in-group and
  cooperative relationships with in-group members
  maintained
• Inter-group Comparison Principle
• In-group positivity enhanced by social comparison
  with the out-group
• Out-group Hostility Principle
• Relationships between in- and out-groups are
  characterised by antagonism, conflict and mutual
  contempt

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Brewer (2001)
Social Categorisation
In-group Positivity
Inter-group Comparison
Inter-group Aggression
Stereotypical representations used, possibility
of self-involvement, categorisation leads to
assimilation
Valuing in-group vs. devaluing out-group,
competition desire to seek relative gain,
aggression desire to harm others
Positive in-group attributes lead to inter-group
discrimination, discrimination characterised by
lack of positive attitudes
Comparison results in positive distinctiveness,
not necessarily competitive, motivation for
comparison important
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Intergroup Conflict

• Brewer (2001) - Competition for resources
  promotes negative out-group attitudes
• Identity salience is increased as a result of
  this competition
• Change from in-group identification to
  co-operative interdependence to intergroup
  conflict is progressive

8
Realistic Conflict Theory (Sherif, 1962)
Limited resources
Conflict between groups
Prejudice and Discrimination
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Robbers Cave (Sherif, 1961)

• Eagles vs. Rattlers
• Reduction of intergroup contact
• Group cohesion increased
• Competitive activities introduced
• Intergroup hostility ensued

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The Contact Hypothesis

• Concerned with reducing intergroup prejudice and
  discrimination
• Necessary conditions for success
• Support of authority figure
• High levels of acquaintance potential
• Equal status interactions
• Co-operative interdependence between groups

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Robbers Cave
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Contact Hypothesis 2 Further Conditions

• Multiple members
• Disconfirms stereotypes of entire group

• Informal setting
• Groups interact in a relaxed way where
  understanding and knowledge sharing are
  facilitated

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Decategorisation

• Brewer Miller (1984)
• In- and out-group categorisations cause
  deindividuation
• Out-group members viewed as undifferentiated
  representatives of a social category
• Interactions should therefore focus on personal
  characteristics

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Recategorisation

• Promotes a new, inclusive identity of which both
  groups can claim membership
• Us and Them become We
• But there are problems with both
  decategorisation and recategorisation

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Mutual Differentiation

• Hewstone Brown (1986)
• Co-operative interactions promote intergroup
  distinctiveness
• Seeks to maintain social identities and positive
  distinctiveness
• Groups should have distinct but complimentary
  roles
• Positive distinctiveness maintained but within a
  framework of cooperation
• Requires a definition as an inter-group situation
  rather than an interpersonal one

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Conflict Contact in Northern Ireland

• Conflict based on the interrelation on multiple
  social, economic, and political aspects
• Segregation results in limited opportunities for
  contact
• Segregation is important in perpetuating the
  conflict
• Cyclical and interdependent relationship between
  segregation and violence (Hamilton, 1995)

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Conflict Contact in Northern Ireland

• Cairns Dunn (1995)
• Positive correlation between cross-community
  contact and attitudes to the out-group
• Catholics have more positive out-group attitudes
  than Protestants
• Individuals with higher social status have more
  positive attitudes than those with lower status
• Greater experience of contact is positively
  associated with more favourable attitudes to
  cross-community contact

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Conflict Contact in Northern Ireland

• Pettigrew (1997)
• Cross-group friendships reduce prejudice
• Interaction with out-group members,
  self-disclosure, and repeated contact promotes
  cross-group friendships
• Stephen Stephen (1985)
• Contact related to reduced inter-group anxiety

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Conflict Contact in Northern Ireland

• Hewstone et al. (2005)
• Cross-community friendships related to reduced
  prejudice, increased trust and forgiveness
• Hewstone (1996)
• Salience of group boundaries needs to be
  maintained during contact in order to promote
  generalisation

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Summary

• Negative stereotypes and prejudice
• Prejudice and intergroup conflict
• Realistic Conflict Theory
• Sherifs Robbers Cave Experiment
• Contact Hypothesis

21
Summary

• Conditions necessary for success of Contact
  Hypothesis
• Decategorisation, recategorisation, mutual
  differentiation
• Conflict and contact in Northern Ireland