PS270 Chapter Notes - Chapter 11: Realistic Conflict Theory
Document Summary
Pain and frustration evoke hostility and when the cause of our frustration is intimidating or vague we often redirect our hostility. More lynchings after civil war when cotton prices were low and economic frustration was high. When living standards are rising, societies tend to be more open to diversity and ethnic peace. Realistic group conflict theory suggests prejudice arises when groups compete for scarce resources. States the maximum competition will exist between species with identical needs. Simply observing another innocent person being victimized is enough to see them as inferior or as deserving of what is happening to them. From early childhood we are taught that good is rewarded. Thus it must be that those who flourish must be good. Leads us to assume that people who have bad things happen to them, must be bad people rather than innocent victims of unjust forces. An innocent victim threatens people"s sense of justice.
