Psychology Dictionary of Arguments
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Group behavior: The concept of group behaviour is ambiguous as to whether the behaviour of
individuals in a group or the behaviour of groups towards other groups is considered. Auxiliary
terms are intra-group behaviour (behaviour of individuals) and inter-group behaviour (behaviour of
groups). A third aspect is the possibility of forming new groups. In literature, based on Muzafer
Sherif's terminology, intergroup behaviour is often used to describe both the behaviour of
individuals within a group and the behaviour of groups towards other groups. See also collectives,
communities, conflicts.
_____________
Annotation: The above characterizations of concepts are neither definitions nor exhausting presentations of
problems related to them. Instead, they are intended to give a short introduction to the contributions below. –
Lexicon of Arguments.
Author
> Sherif,
Muzafer
Item
Summary
Haslam I 146
Group behavior/Sherif: to understand intergroup
phenomena (i.e., the ways that groups behave towards
each other) [Sherif] believed that it was critical to take an
intergroup approach. To be sure, being a psychologist,
he saw the individual’s ‘perception of the social world’,
coupled with the individual’s ‘learning about it’ and
appraisals and evaluations of it, as a key focus of his
> Group analysis (Sherif and Sherif, 1969(1): 8).
Behavior >Individuals/Sherif.
Haslam I 147
Sherif: the progress and pattern of intergroup behaviour
represent[s] normal social-psychological functioning, and
is neither ‘irrational’ (Sherif and Sherif, 1969(1): 269),
nor a ‘problem of deviate behaviour’ (Sherif et al.,
1961(2): 198).
VsSherif: it can sometimes appear as if Sherif took a
very one-sided approach to intergroup relations.
Meta data
Sherif, Muzafer
Haslam I
S. Alexander
Haslam
Joanne R.
Smith
Social
Psychology.
Revisiting the
Classic Studies
London 2017
Psychology Dictionary of Arguments
Search
Group behavior: The concept of group behaviour is ambiguous as to whether the behaviour of
individuals in a group or the behaviour of groups towards other groups is considered. Auxiliary
terms are intra-group behaviour (behaviour of individuals) and inter-group behaviour (behaviour of
groups). A third aspect is the possibility of forming new groups. In literature, based on Muzafer
Sherif's terminology, intergroup behaviour is often used to describe both the behaviour of
individuals within a group and the behaviour of groups towards other groups. See also collectives,
communities, conflicts.
_____________
Annotation: The above characterizations of concepts are neither definitions nor exhausting presentations of
problems related to them. Instead, they are intended to give a short introduction to the contributions below. –
Lexicon of Arguments.
Author
Item
Summary
SherifVsVs:/Platow/Hunter: [Sherif et al.] did all they
could in their Boys’ Camp studies (>Robbers Camp
study/Sherif) to show that biological and personality
constructs could not account for their findings. To
achieve that, [they] worked hard to demonstrate the
power of the social context in shaping both intragroup
and intergroup attitudes and behaviours. But [their] goal
was never to discard completely other potential factors.
>Robbers Camp Study/Sherif.
Haslam I 148
Intergroup relations: [for Sherif et al.] intergroup relations
were conceptualized as ‘functional relationships
between two or more groups … and their respective
members’ (Sherif and Sherif, 1969(1): 223). Embedded
here, again, is the basic premise that these relations
entail actual, material interactions. Moreover, these
relationships occur both between individual group
members and between the groups as entities.
Interactions: a) between people within at least two
Meta data
Psychology Dictionary of Arguments
Search
Group behavior: The concept of group behaviour is ambiguous as to whether the behaviour of
individuals in a group or the behaviour of groups towards other groups is considered. Auxiliary
terms are intra-group behaviour (behaviour of individuals) and inter-group behaviour (behaviour of
groups). A third aspect is the possibility of forming new groups. In literature, based on Muzafer
Sherif's terminology, intergroup behaviour is often used to describe both the behaviour of
individuals within a group and the behaviour of groups towards other groups. See also collectives,
communities, conflicts.
_____________
Annotation: The above characterizations of concepts are neither definitions nor exhausting presentations of
problems related to them. Instead, they are intended to give a short introduction to the contributions below. –
Lexicon of Arguments.
Author
Item
Summary
separate groups
b) between groups.
Method/Sherif: three experimental phases
1) ingroup formation
2) intergroup conflict
3) reduction of intergroup conflict. >Robbers Cave
Experiment/Sherif.
Haslam I 154
Group behavior/boys’ camp studies/Robbers Cave
Experiment/Sherif/psychological theories: the studies
showed that intergroup impressions, attitudes and
behaviours are both
(a) consequences of intergroup relations (as opposed to
causes) and also
(b) psychologically meaningful for group members.
Specifically, in the studies, intergroup impressions (i.e.,
stereotypes) were shown to vary meaningfully in both
content and valence so as to reflect changes in the
competitive and cooperative relationships between the
Meta data
Psychology Dictionary of Arguments
Search
Group behavior: The concept of group behaviour is ambiguous as to whether the behaviour of
individuals in a group or the behaviour of groups towards other groups is considered. Auxiliary
terms are intra-group behaviour (behaviour of individuals) and inter-group behaviour (behaviour of
groups). A third aspect is the possibility of forming new groups. In literature, based on Muzafer
Sherif's terminology, intergroup behaviour is often used to describe both the behaviour of
individuals within a group and the behaviour of groups towards other groups. See also collectives,
communities, conflicts.
_____________
Annotation: The above characterizations of concepts are neither definitions nor exhausting presentations of
problems related to them. Instead, they are intended to give a short introduction to the contributions below. –
Lexicon of Arguments.
Author
Item
Summary
two groups.
Haslam I 155
Results: [the studies] provide[s] a clear path to follow in
pursuing broader social change: to reduce negative
stereotypes and foster positive intergroup attitudes, one
needs to change the real relationships between real
groups from which they arise. In this respect, seeking to
promote intergroup harmony simply by bringing
members of the two groups together to see that ‘they’re
all just normal, decent people’ can be seen as
dangerously naïve.
1. Sherif, M. and Sherif, C.W. (1969) Social Psychology.
New York: Harper & Row.
2. Sherif, M., Harvey, O.J., White, B.J., Hood, W.R. and
Sherif, C.W. (1961) Intergroup Conflict and Cooperation:
The Robbers Cave Experiment. Norman, OK: Institute of
Group Relations, University of Oklahoma.
Meta data
Psychology Dictionary of Arguments
Search
Group behavior: The concept of group behaviour is ambiguous as to whether the behaviour of
individuals in a group or the behaviour of groups towards other groups is considered. Auxiliary
terms are intra-group behaviour (behaviour of individuals) and inter-group behaviour (behaviour of
groups). A third aspect is the possibility of forming new groups. In literature, based on Muzafer
Sherif's terminology, intergroup behaviour is often used to describe both the behaviour of
individuals within a group and the behaviour of groups towards other groups. See also collectives,
communities, conflicts.
_____________
Annotation: The above characterizations of concepts are neither definitions nor exhausting presentations of
problems related to them. Instead, they are intended to give a short introduction to the contributions below. –
Lexicon of Arguments.
Author
Item
Summary
Michael W. Platow and John A. Hunter, „ Intergroup
Relations and Conflicts. Revisiting Sherif’s Boys’ Camp
studies“, in: Joanne R. Smith and S. Alexander Haslam
(eds.) 2017. Social Psychology. Revisiting the Class
studies. London: Sage Publications
_____________
Explanation of symbols: Roman numerals indicate the source, arabic
numerals indicate the page number. The corresponding books are
indicated on the right hand side. ((s)…): Comment by the sender of
the contribution.
The note [Author1]Vs[Author2] or [Author]Vs[term] is an addition from
the Dictionary of Arguments. If a German edition is specified, the page
numbers refer to this edition.
Meta data
> Counter arguments against Sherif
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