/ Soc.335i Hicks M arlow e Discussion Exercise #16 Intergroup Conflict (Chap.16)
Note Taker: Group Mem bers: (5 pts.each)
1. Identify the main idea(s) involved in the following concepts, provide example(s), and briefly discuss how they are related to the development, maintenance or reduction of intergroup conflict: (a) intergroup conflict (f) aversive event (b) mediator vs arbitrator (g) ultimate attribution error (c) ethnocentrism (h) superordinate goal (d) discrimination (i) stereotype (e) illusion of out-group homogeneity (j) frustration-aggression theory
The study of intergroup conflict focuses on 4 m ajor issues: (a) How and why does it start?; (b) W hy does it persist once it starts?; (c) How does engaging in group conflict with others affect the group itself?; and (d) W hat strategies or tactics can reduce or resolve intergroup conflict? Let's deal with these issues individually: 2. Developm ent of Intergroup Conflict: There are 3 m ain bases for the developm ent of conflict between groups. Identify the m ain idea(s) involved in each of these sources of conflict, and provide a concrete exam ple showing how the concept or process works. (a) Actual differences in the goals and outcom es perceived to be caused by the opposing group (i.e., "realistic group conflict"). (b) In-Group vs Out-Group Identification and Ethnocentrism (i.e., "social identity theory of intergroup behavior"). (c) An initial aversive event that expands into broader overt conflict between the opposing groups. Discuss the setup and findings of Sherif's "Robbers Cave" experim ent, and show how processes discussed above contributed to the developm ent of conflict between the boys' groups. 3. Persistence of Intergroup Conflict: A key factor in m aintaining conflict between groups is perceptual bias, both in how the "out-group" is perceived, and in how the perform ance of both the in-group and out-group is evaluated. Discuss and illustrate how the following factors contribute to this kind of perceptual bias. (a) Misperception of out-group hom ogeneity (b) Group stereotypes of both the in-group and out-group (c) The "ultim ate attribution error" (e.g., self-serving attributions) (d) Bias in the evaluation of the perform ance of the in-group and out-group 4. Im pact of on Conflict Between-Group and W ithin-Group Processes: Ongoing conflict between groups can change both the nature of the com m unication and interaction between the groups and the internal dynam ics of the groups them selves, all of which m akes it m ore difficult to reduce or resolve the conflict. Discuss why of each of the following factors m ay occur during conflict, and illustrate how each factor contributes to the negative change in the between-group and within-group dynam ics. (a) Expansion of the issue (b) Polarization of relations and com m unication breakdown between groups (c) Changes in group cohesion (d) Increasing m ilitancy in the leadership (e) Changes in the priority and enforcem ent of norm s A m ajor internal conflict the U.S. has experienced in the past 5 or so years is between the groups that support the Iraq war versus those who oppose it. Using this ideological conflict as your starting point, provide exam ples of the concepts you just discussed in this question (i.e., "a" through "e"). 5. Resolution of Intergroup Conflict: Fortunately, researchers have found som e strategies that reduce the level of conflict between groups. Identify the m ain idea(s) of each of these conflict techniques, and show how they work to reduce intergroup conflict. (a) superordinate goals (c) m ediation vs arbitration (b) intergroup contact (and elabora...