This classic experiment in social psychology in the 1950s shed light on the possible psychological basis of why social groups and countries are in conflict with each other— and how they can learn to cooperate again.
Study leader Muzafer Sherif took two teams of 11 boys (all 11 years old) to Robbers Cave State Park in Oklahoma for “summer camp.” The groups (named “Eagles” and “Rattlers”) spent a week apart, having fun and bonding with each other, without knowledge of the other group’s presence. After actually combining the two teams, the boys started calling each other names, and when they started competing in different games, there was more tension, and gradually the groups refused to eat together.
Sherif planned interventions in the next step of the research to try and resolve the boys by making them enjoy recreational activities together (which was unsuccessful) and then helping them solve a problem together, which eventually began to alleviate the tension.
