Editing Intercultural exchange (section)

=== How can Prejudices and Discrimination be reduced? ===
In the [http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Sherif/ Robber's Cave experiment], Sherif and his colleges (1961, see also Tajfel et al., 1971; 
Rabbie & Horwitz, 1969) conducted an experiment with two groups of boys at a summer camp in the Robber's Cave national park. In the first phase of the camp the randomly assigned groups formed fostered friendships and group unity in the group. During the second phase they successfully demonstrated that the boys developed even more hostility and prejudice towards the other group, when they had to compete in a series of sporting events for a scare resource (a 5$ price). After this phase both groups saw themselves as superior and referred to the other group as inferior and described them in negative attitudes. In the final phase of the camp, Sherif et al. tried to reduce the prejudice they produced between the groups during the competition, and even before when they first heard of each other. 

Firstly they decided to try to reduce the prejudice with Allport's (1954) classic contact hypotheses and brought the groups together. According to the contact hypothesis, bringing groups in contact should result in prejudice reduction, as in many cases prejudice and stereotypes are based on ignorance and inadequate knowledge about the other group through lack of contact. Therefore, bringing the two groups of boys together should reduce prejudice and result in the formation of intergroup friendships (Allport). Sherif et al. brought them together at the dinner table and other occasions. Unfortunately, this did not reduce the prejudice between the groups. It even fostered the prejudices and stereotypes that the boys had about each other and resulted in even more fights between the two groups.

In order to successfully reduce the existing prejudices and stereotypes the boys had, Sherif et al. introduced a so called ‘superordinated goal’. They speculated that when the goals of two groups are compatible, the attitudes towards the other group should be more tolerant by blurring the lines between ingroup and outgroup membership. In order to archive this goal, the two groups had to cooperate and work together in a series of introduced incidents. The groups managed to accomplish the incidents, while Sherif et al. (1961) noticed a dramatic decline and even absence in hostility between the groups. 

Throughout the years subsequent research, in the lab and field, has produced data that is supportive of the realistic conflict theory. It is supportive in regard to the origin of prejudice and stereotypes as well as for the reduction of them. However, this might not be as easy as the Robber's Cave experiment would lead to assume (Brown, 1995). Nevertheless, the available data indicates strong support for the efficacy of cooperative (learning) groups in reducing intergroup stereotyping and prejudice (Slavin & Cooper 1999) and therewith, arguable, one of the underling factors of discrimination (Sampson, 1999).