Realistic conflict is a perceived group-level competition over collective consequences

Evidence

Allport noted that group relations may be realistically competitive in two respects. First, demands for resources often exceed their supply. For example, the number of people seeking employment may be greater than the number of jobs available. Although in such a case the competition actually exists between individual rivals for jobs, these individuals may nonetheless perceive the competition to be at an intergroup level. Thus, Allport described realistic group conflict as reflecting the common perception that competition for resources involves group identities and has collective consequences. — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1476