Recall that Sherif and his colleagues (1951) created conflict between two groups of boys in a summer camp. Once in-group cohesiveness was established, they set up a series of competitive situations such as tug-of-war and other competitive games. Conflict between the two groups escalated. Sherif and his colleagues were only successful in reducing conflict and hostility when __________.
A) they brought the groups together in neutral situations
B) leaders endorsed a truce between the two rival groups
C) they constructed situations that fostered mutual interdependence
D) groups were punished for behaving with hostility

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Sherif and his colleagues were only successful in reducing conflict and hostility when they constructed situations that fostered mutual interdependence. This involved creating tasks or activities that required cooperation between the two groups, where each group needed the other in order to achieve a common goal. This mutual interdependence helped to break down the "us vs them" mentality and allowed for greater cooperation and decreased hostility between the groups.

Recall That Sherif and His Colleagues (1951) Created Conflict Between