Psychology 3720F/G Chapter Notes - Chapter 9: Realistic Conflict Theory, Henri Tajfel, Group Conflict

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 3720F/G
• Professor: Haynes

Document Summary

Explained how intergroup hostility arises from competition over scarce resources. A basic assumption of his theory is that attitudes and behaviour towards an out group depend on the functional relationships between the groups involved. Started the proposition that a conflict of interest is a sufficient but by no means necessary condition for eliciting intergroup hostility and aggression. Argued that discrimination and hostility between groups arise even in the absence of tangible conflicts of interest. Merely a result of the categorization of members into in-group and out-group. Group w in any way: the results showed a shift from fair, equal treatment of both groups, with favouritism being shown to members of their own group which they had nothing in common with. Decker: conclude that compared with other homicides, homicides committed by gangs are far more likely to involve male perpetrators, men or racial or ethnic minorities and the use of weapons.