States that inter-group hostility can arise due to result of a conflicting goal & competition of limited resources. Prejudice is more likely if the resource is finite.
Explains prejudice & discrimination towards outgroups. Groups may be in competition for real or perceived scarce resources.
This is important if the group see only one winner (Zero sum fate). The conflict is based upon the shortage and value of the resource.
Any group competition for the same resource will tend to be an in-group & and out-group. The out-group threatening the resource.
There is evidence that when ppl compete for scarce resources there is a rise in hostility between groups. Prejudice can be reduced by putting everyone in the same in-group by reassuring everyone that there is enough resources to go around.
This links back to Sheriff as hostility between in-groups & out-groups were reduced when a superordinate goal was introduced which put everyone in the same in-group.
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
| Sheriff – found that when introduced competition in phase 2, prejudice increased due to both groups wanting to compete for points to prove their ability – shows that competition between in group & outgroup creates prejudice
Application – Because the study states that prejudice arises due to real or perceived scarce resources because threatened by an out-group – superordinate goals need to be used to put everyone in the same in-group such as jigsaw fit in education institutions. High eco validity – sheriff’s study was done in a natural setting of a summer camp – meaning that behaviour will be natural & not artificial.
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Low reliability – sheriff’s study was done as a field experiment/ natural setting of a summer camp meaning less control on EV – harder to replicate to test for consistencies of findings.
Tyerman & spencer – study using British scouts when divided into groups & introduced competition however friendly ties remained across groups – showing competition between groups doesn’t create prejudice Sheriff – prejudice started to arise before the introduction of competition to the groups – therefore show competition creating prejudice but more emphasis on formation of groups. SIT – suggests that prejudice arises just by the mere existence of groups – this theory refutes the idea that prejudice arises due to competition Weakness – there is no solid proof that scarce resources are the cause of prejudice – cannot be sure that scarce resources or even competition are what causes prejudice. |