Comments on: War, Peace and the Role of Power in Sherif’s Robbers Cave Experiment http://www.spring.org.uk/2007/09/war-peace-and-role-of-power-in-sherifs.php Understand your mind with the science of psychology - Mon, 04 May 2009 10:30:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: carrie http://www.spring.org.uk/2007/09/war-peace-and-role-of-power-in-sherifs.php/comment-page-2#comment-23605 carrie Fri, 27 Mar 2009 09:46:21 +0000 http://spring.org.uk/2007/09/war-peace-and-the-role-of-power-in-sherifs-robbers-cave-experiment.php#comment-23605 I wonder if Dr Zeuss got a handle on this when he wrote about the sneetches.. It would be interesting to do the experiment giving one group more resources and seeing if they would be giving or feel more powerful. I do think children would behave differently to adults as their motivation, priorities etc are different.. I wonder if Dr Zeuss got a handle on this when he wrote about the sneetches.. It would be interesting to do the experiment giving one group more resources and seeing if they would be giving or feel more powerful. I do think children would behave differently to adults as their motivation, priorities etc are different..

]]> By: Shamel http://www.spring.org.uk/2007/09/war-peace-and-role-of-power-in-sherifs.php/comment-page-2#comment-23265 Shamel Thu, 19 Mar 2009 02:40:47 +0000 http://spring.org.uk/2007/09/war-peace-and-the-role-of-power-in-sherifs-robbers-cave-experiment.php#comment-23265 According to Frances Cherri (1995), in the first study the two groups of boys fought a third group. The original sources by Sherif that describe the first experiment of 1949 is here if you want to check for yourself: Cherri (1995), http://books.google.ca/books?id=NsFRmWRpjDIC&pg=PA100&lpg=PA100&dq=fran+Cherry+%22Lost+in+translation%22&source=bl&ots=4MlSgxyRlr&sig=WMjotcmyJdyPrkYsa5OukKDWIAw#PPA106,M1 Rohrer, J.H., and Sherif M. (1951), Social Psychology at the Crossroads, New York: Harper and Bros (Chapter 17) Sherif, M., and Sherif, C.W. (1953), Groups in Harmony and Tension: An Integration of Studies in Intergroup Relations, New York: Harper and Bros (Chapters 9 and 10) Sherif, M. (1954), Integrating field work and laboratory work in small group research, American Sociological Review, 19, 759-71 According to Frances Cherri (1995), in the first study the two groups of boys fought a third group.

The original sources by Sherif that describe the first experiment of 1949 is here if you want to check for yourself:

Cherri (1995), http://books.google.ca/books?id=NsFRmWRpjDIC&pg=PA100&lpg=PA100&dq=fran+Cherry+%22Lost+in+translation%22&source=bl&ots=4MlSgxyRlr&sig=WMjotcmyJdyPrkYsa5OukKDWIAw#PPA106,M1

Rohrer, J.H., and Sherif M. (1951), Social Psychology at the Crossroads, New York: Harper and Bros (Chapter 17)

Sherif, M., and Sherif, C.W. (1953), Groups in Harmony and Tension: An Integration of Studies in Intergroup Relations, New York: Harper and Bros (Chapters 9 and 10)

Sherif, M. (1954), Integrating field work and laboratory work in small group research, American Sociological Review, 19, 759-71

]]> By: Kurt http://www.spring.org.uk/2007/09/war-peace-and-role-of-power-in-sherifs.php/comment-page-1#comment-22150 Kurt Tue, 13 Jan 2009 19:46:00 +0000 http://spring.org.uk/2007/09/war-peace-and-the-role-of-power-in-sherifs-robbers-cave-experiment.php#comment-22150 Wow, "The other story" of the common enemy is one of the main overarching plots of the graphic novel "The Watchmen". Or at least that's how Ozymandias, one of the godlike characters, seeks to resolve the cold war brinksmanship between the US and USSR. Interesting to see Alan Moore's sources revealed. Wow, "The other story" of the common enemy is one of the main overarching plots of the graphic novel "The Watchmen". Or at least that's how Ozymandias, one of the godlike characters, seeks to resolve the cold war brinksmanship between the US and USSR. Interesting to see Alan Moore's sources revealed.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.spring.org.uk/2007/09/war-peace-and-role-of-power-in-sherifs.php/comment-page-1#comment-21272 Anonymous Thu, 14 Feb 2008 15:49:00 +0000 http://spring.org.uk/2007/09/war-peace-and-the-role-of-power-in-sherifs-robbers-cave-experiment.php#comment-21272 "Jeremy (PsyBlog author) said... <br />Hi Anon, the 'common enemy' in the first experiment was another group of boys that just happened to be in the area."<br />Hahaha! <br />Actually this reminds me of this comment experiment I heard about where a bunch of schmucks triple teamed on the author of a blog. "Jeremy (PsyBlog author) said...
Hi Anon, the 'common enemy' in the first experiment was another group of boys that just happened to be in the area."
Hahaha!
Actually this reminds me of this comment experiment I heard about where a bunch of schmucks triple teamed on the author of a blog.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.spring.org.uk/2007/09/war-peace-and-role-of-power-in-sherifs.php/comment-page-1#comment-21175 Anonymous Wed, 30 Jan 2008 02:09:00 +0000 http://spring.org.uk/2007/09/war-peace-and-the-role-of-power-in-sherifs-robbers-cave-experiment.php#comment-21175 Ah, Jeremy. Ta for the introduction into a fascinating series of experiments, particularly the revelation that Robber's Cave was tried more than once. <br /><br />However, like jane, anon and snickkers, I too am confused about the difference in the runs.<br /><br />"In the first, the boys ganged up on a common enemy and in the second they ganged up on the experimenters themselves."<br /><br />Who were the "common enemy" in the first run of the experiment? <br /><br />The only way that I can understand it is if the initial two groups reformed into a main group (gang) and outcasts (common enemy)? Is this what happened? Ah, Jeremy. Ta for the introduction into a fascinating series of experiments, particularly the revelation that Robber's Cave was tried more than once.

However, like jane, anon and snickkers, I too am confused about the difference in the runs.

"In the first, the boys ganged up on a common enemy and in the second they ganged up on the experimenters themselves."

Who were the "common enemy" in the first run of the experiment?

The only way that I can understand it is if the initial two groups reformed into a main group (gang) and outcasts (common enemy)? Is this what happened?

]]> By: Jeremy (PsyBlog author) http://www.spring.org.uk/2007/09/war-peace-and-role-of-power-in-sherifs.php/comment-page-1#comment-20988 Jeremy (PsyBlog author) Sat, 29 Dec 2007 12:47:00 +0000 http://spring.org.uk/2007/09/war-peace-and-the-role-of-power-in-sherifs-robbers-cave-experiment.php#comment-20988 Snickkers, there were only two groups of boys in all three experiments. The 'third' group I refer to is the experimenters themselves. Snickkers, there were only two groups of boys in all three experiments. The 'third' group I refer to is the experimenters themselves.

]]> By: snickkers http://www.spring.org.uk/2007/09/war-peace-and-role-of-power-in-sherifs.php/comment-page-1#comment-20946 snickkers Thu, 20 Dec 2007 03:38:00 +0000 http://spring.org.uk/2007/09/war-peace-and-the-role-of-power-in-sherifs-robbers-cave-experiment.php#comment-20946 I know this is a little old now. Jeremy Dean, are you saying that the first experiment had 3 separate groups of boys, whereby two of the groups allied and went after the remaining group?<br /><br />Meanwhile, the last 2 experiments consisted of 2 groups of boys? I know this is a little old now. Jeremy Dean, are you saying that the first experiment had 3 separate groups of boys, whereby two of the groups allied and went after the remaining group?

Meanwhile, the last 2 experiments consisted of 2 groups of boys?

]]> By: Anurag Singh http://www.spring.org.uk/2007/09/war-peace-and-role-of-power-in-sherifs.php/comment-page-1#comment-20931 Anurag Singh Tue, 18 Dec 2007 08:06:00 +0000 http://spring.org.uk/2007/09/war-peace-and-the-role-of-power-in-sherifs-robbers-cave-experiment.php#comment-20931 This might be the study which would explain insurgencies in North-Eastern part of India. Successive governments have encouraged tribal groups to take up arms against other tribal groups which are becoming too strong for center's comfort. More often than not, the two groups combine and then revolt against center. <br />I think that Jeremy Dean is correct to point out that the first and second experiments lend a touch of reality to the experiment. Almost always, efforts to manipulate some group end up in SNAFUs. A case in point would be the American attempts to manipulate Mujahideens to get Russians out of Afghanistan. Now, they have turned against the 'experimenters', in this case USA. This might be the study which would explain insurgencies in North-Eastern part of India. Successive governments have encouraged tribal groups to take up arms against other tribal groups which are becoming too strong for center's comfort. More often than not, the two groups combine and then revolt against center.
I think that Jeremy Dean is correct to point out that the first and second experiments lend a touch of reality to the experiment. Almost always, efforts to manipulate some group end up in SNAFUs. A case in point would be the American attempts to manipulate Mujahideens to get Russians out of Afghanistan. Now, they have turned against the 'experimenters', in this case USA.

]]> By: Sayme Asido http://www.spring.org.uk/2007/09/war-peace-and-role-of-power-in-sherifs.php/comment-page-1#comment-20866 Sayme Asido Mon, 03 Dec 2007 03:10:00 +0000 http://spring.org.uk/2007/09/war-peace-and-the-role-of-power-in-sherifs-robbers-cave-experiment.php#comment-20866 If any large government or organization with power is a possible enemy then we don't actually need a government to allow people peace. It seems to me that we need a goal, a common goal that is relevant to all people. Ian's comment also seemed interesting to me, that of the legislation, which is present in every organized control group and was pretty much done to death in the matrix trilogy: if one group has to follow rules then a group that does not follow them can win. History gives us the battle of Agincourt and the American revolution as two examples of this. Janes question was also interesting, in Lord of the flies this particular occurrence happens and the enemy is executed, as the beast would be, what was the Sherif experiment's common enemy? It occurs to me that information on this would be helpful given the current U.S. political agenda of using a common enemy to drive the American economy . If any large government or organization with power is a possible enemy then we don't actually need a government to allow people peace. It seems to me that we need a goal, a common goal that is relevant to all people. Ian's comment also seemed interesting to me, that of the legislation, which is present in every organized control group and was pretty much done to death in the matrix trilogy: if one group has to follow rules then a group that does not follow them can win. History gives us the battle of Agincourt and the American revolution as two examples of this. Janes question was also interesting, in Lord of the flies this particular occurrence happens and the enemy is executed, as the beast would be, what was the Sherif experiment's common enemy? It occurs to me that information on this would be helpful given the current U.S. political agenda of using a common enemy to drive the American economy .

]]> By: Jeremy (PsyBlog author) http://www.spring.org.uk/2007/09/war-peace-and-role-of-power-in-sherifs.php/comment-page-1#comment-20811 Jeremy (PsyBlog author) Thu, 22 Nov 2007 09:10:00 +0000 http://spring.org.uk/2007/09/war-peace-and-the-role-of-power-in-sherifs-robbers-cave-experiment.php#comment-20811 Anon, in the first two they got together to rebel against another - but it was only the experimenters in the second study. Anon, in the first two they got together to rebel against another - but it was only the experimenters in the second study.

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