7125 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Group Dynamics, Relative Deprivation, Social Trap
21 Jun 2018
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Lecture 8
Intergroup behaviour
- Social dilemmas
oSocial dilemmas – situation in which most rewarding short-term choice for individual
causes negative consequences for group as a whole (most likely long term)
Social trap
Situation in which the conflicting parties, by each rationally pursuing
its self interest, become caught in mutually destructive behaviour
oExamples are prisoners dilemma and the tragedy of
commons
oThe prisoners dilemma
‘game theory’ – study of cooperation in terms of dilemmas/games
Non-zero-sum games or mixed motive situations – with cooperation both
players can win, with competition both can lose
Conflict between individual and gain combined
Prisoners dilemma game: 2 person game where both parties are torn
between competition and cooperation
oCriticisms of dilemma games
Assumes individuals are rational, motivated to maximise self-interest
Lack ecological/external validity
Doesn’t reflect real world application
Are they about intergroup (or interpersonal) cooperation?
oTragedy of the commons
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Commons dilemma – if all cooperate, all gain ; if all compete, all lose
Tragedy of the commons (hardin, 1968)
Individuals consumes more than their share of common resource
ultimately leading to loss of resource for all
oIe cows grazing grass
If people want more than the sustainable 5 cows –
competes – loss
Public goods dilemma
Indidivual must contribute to a provision of freely available resource
oIe taxes
Free-rider effect – benefit from public good without contributing
oIe not paying taxes for roads etc
- Resolving social dilemmas
oSelf interest versus collective good – usual outcome is competition
oRegulation
Ie rules about logging, fishing, carbon emissions
oSmall groups – people feel more responsible and identify more with groups success
oCommunication increases cooperation
oChange the payoffs
oAppeal to altruistic norms
oStrong identification with group that owns shared resource leads to people acting in
collective rather than personal interest
- Intergroup behaviour
oBehaviour that involved interaction between members of separate social groups
oIndividual behaviour that is influenced by awareness of, and identification with a
social group
- Intergroup conflict
o2 identifiably different groups conflict
Ie protesters and police
oRelative deprivation theory
Frustration-aggression hypothesis – all aggression comes from frustration
Relative deprivation – sense of having less than one is entitled to
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find more resources at oneclass.com
Ie material resources – expecting to be earning more than you are
Perceived relative deprivation leads to feelings of frustration – social unrest
and possible violence
Fraternalistic relative deprivation: sense that our ingroup has less than it is
entitles to compared to a relevant outgroup
Ie best friend, who you think is similar – earns more! Creates more
frustration
Can lead to conflict with that outgroup
J curve hypothesis of relative deprivation (davies)
oSheriffs summer camp studies
Studies had 3 main phases
Arrive at camp, formed friendship then
oSplit into 2 groups, groups isolated
Gained their own identity
Ie made flags etc
o2 groups brought together to engage in intergroup
competition
Intergroup conflict occured
oIntroduced superordinate goals – decreased intergroup
conflict and increased cooperation
Important points re: the studies
Some ethnocentrism present before competition
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Social dilemmas: social dilemmas situation in which most rewarding short-term choice for individual causes negative consequences for group as a whole (most likely long term) Situation in which the conflicting parties, by each rationally pursuing its self interest, become caught in mutually destructive behaviour: examples are prisoners dilemma and the tragedy of commons, the prisoners dilemma. Game theory" study of cooperation in terms of dilemmas/games. Non-zero-sum games or mixed motive situations with cooperation both players can win, with competition both can lose. Prisoners dilemma game: 2 person game where both parties are torn between competition and cooperation: criticisms of dilemma games. Assumes individuals are rational, motivated to maximise self-interest. Are they about intergroup (or interpersonal) cooperation: tragedy of the commons. Commons dilemma if all cooperate, all gain ; if all compete, all lose. Individuals consumes more than their share of common resource ultimately leading to loss of resource for all: ie cows grazing grass.
