Sherif's Robbers Cave study demonstrates the effect of cooperative goals.

Sherif's Robbers Cave study demonstrates the effect of cooperative goals.

• A. A Cooperative Goal That Requires Joint Effort
• B. A Simple Majority Vote
• C. Physical Separation Of Groups
• D. Forcing One Group To Leave

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that intergroup hostility can be reduced when groups must work together to achieve a shared objective. In Sherif's Robbers Cave study, after the two groups developed strong rivalry, researchers introduced tasks that could only be completed if both groups cooperated. These cooperative goals required joint effort and created interdependence, so success depended on collaboration. As the groups worked toward these common goals, prejudice and hostility diminished, showing how cooperative goals can transform intergroup relations. A simple majority vote, physical separation, or forcing one group to leave don’t create the mutual dependence or shared purpose needed to reduce conflict in the same way.

The main idea is that intergroup hostility can be reduced when groups must work together to achieve a shared objective. In Sherif's Robbers Cave study, after the two groups developed strong rivalry, researchers introduced tasks that could only be completed if both groups cooperated. These cooperative goals required joint effort and created interdependence, so success depended on collaboration. As the groups worked toward these common goals, prejudice and hostility diminished, showing how cooperative goals can transform intergroup relations. A simple majority vote, physical separation, or forcing one group to leave don’t create the mutual dependence or shared purpose needed to reduce conflict in the same way.