Robbers Cave Experiment

The Robbers Cave Experiment was a social psychology study conducted in 1959 to understand how group conflicts develop and how they can be resolved. Researchers divided a group of boys into two separate teams at a summer camp and created competitive activities, which led to hostility and prejudice between the groups. When leaders encouraged cooperation through shared goals, the hostility decreased. The experiment demonstrated that intergroup conflict often arises from competition for resources and can be reduced through teamwork and common objectives, highlighting the importance of collaboration in overcoming prejudice.