Intergroup attitudes are constrained by relationship structure, not free-floating sentiment.

Evidence

Early on, the Robbers’ Cave experiments at a boys’ summer camp (Sherif & Sherif, 1953) had demonstrated that people’s intergroup attitudes were a product of their group’s interests in a specifically structured, intergroup relationship. When relations between the Eagles and Rattlers were structured with repeated zero-sum, win-or-lose contests between groups, reciprocated hostilities quickly developed in the groups’ behaviors and attitudes. Hostilities were dispelled by introducing “superordinate goals” that required cooperation and changed the interests of the two groups from mutually opposed to shared and interdependent (see also Gaertner & Dovidio, ch. 5 this volume). Although the Sherifs’ field experiments were restricted to a rudimentary dichotomy in intergroup structure (mutually opposed interests with frequent competitive interactions versus shared interests with cooperative interactions), their results pointed to the significance of structural constraints and self-interest in shaping intergroup attitudes and behaviors. — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 651 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Early on, the Robbers’ Cave experiments at a boys’ summer camp (Sherif & Sherif, 1953) had demonstrated that people’s intergroup attitudes were a product of their group’s interests in a specifically structured, intergroup relationship. When relations between the Eagles and Rattlers were structured with repeated zero-sum, win-or-lose contests between groups, reciprocated hostilities quickly developed in the groups’ behaviors and attitudes. Hostilities were dispelled by introducing “superordinate goals” that required cooperation and changed the interests of the two groups from mutually opposed to shared and interdependent (see also Gaertner & Dovidio, ch. — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 651 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Social groups are ternary, not binary, relations among third parties. — Christine Daigle, Jacob Golomb (eds.), Beauvoir and Sartre: The Riddle of…, 421; Tolerance of difference does not imply embracing it in one’s own social network.; Antagonism to outgroups is a single generalized sentiment, not separate prejudices (+9 more)

Broader Connections

• Intergroup hostility is a product of structured interests, not fixed animosity. #corroborates (0.92) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 651
• Structured group interests, not personalities, drive intergroup hostility #corroborates (0.92) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 651