Describe the procedures used and findings obtained by the Sherifs and their colleagues in the Robbers Cave Experiment.

The Robbers Cave Experiment was conducted by social psychologist Muzafer Sherif and his colleagues in 1954. The study aimed to investigate intergroup conflict and cooperation among groups of boys at a summer camp.

The researchers divided 22 boys into two groups and placed them in separate living quarters at Robbers Cave State Park in Oklahoma. The boys were not aware of the existence of the other group. The first phase of the experiment involved the boys bonding within their own groups through various activities such as hiking, swimming, and team sports. The researchers observed that the boys quickly formed strong group identities and developed a sense of loyalty and camaraderie within their respective groups.

In the second phase, the researchers introduced competition between the two groups. They organized a series of competitive activities, such as baseball and tug-of-war, with prizes for the winning group. As the competition intensified, the boys began to display hostility and aggression towards the opposing group. They engaged in name-calling, vandalism, and even physical altercations.

In the final phase of the experiment, the researchers attempted to reduce the hostility between the groups. They introduced tasks that required cooperation between the two groups, such as fixing a broken water supply. Through these cooperative activities, the boys began to see the members of the other group as allies rather than enemies. The researchers observed a significant reduction in intergroup hostility and an increase in cooperation and friendliness between the boys.

Overall, the Robbers Cave Experiment demonstrated the formation of group identities, the escalation of intergroup conflict through competition, and the potential for reducing hostility and promoting cooperation through shared goals and intergroup contact. The findings of the study have contributed to our understanding of intergroup dynamics and the factors that influence conflict and cooperation between groups.