IB Psychology Topic Cooperation and Competition Revision Notes (SL/HL)

IB Psychology Topic Cooperation and Competition Revision Notes (SL/HL) | RevisionDojo

Written by official IB examiners

Definition

Cooperation: Intergroup pro-social behavior that benefits interests of others, fostering mutual gains. This can involve both parties benefiting or one acting at their own expense for the benefit of others.
- "I win, you win" or "I lose, you win"
Competition: Interpersonal or intergroup behavior aimed at benefiting oneself, often at the expense of others.
- "I win, you lose"

Realistic Conflict Theory

Realistic Conflict Theory (RCT) posits that conflict between groups is a result of competition for resources. The theory states that competition over limited resources fosters hostility, whereas cooperation toward shared goals reduces intergroup tensions.

Main Claims:

Negative goal interdependence: one group can only succeed if they other fails. This fosters ingroup favoritism, discriminatory behavior, and hostility towards the outgroup.
Contact alone is insufficient: bringing groups into contact does not resolve conflict.
Positive goal interdependence: Conflict can only be reduced by having groups rely on each other and work together towards superordinate goals (common goals).

Case study

Sherif et al. (1954):

Aim: To investigate the formation and resolution of intergroup conflict as well how competition for resources leads to hostility and whether working towards a shared goal reduces conflict.

Method:

A field experiment conducted at Robbers Cave State Park, Oklahoma, where 22 boys (aged 11-12) from similar socio-economic backgrounds were randomly assigned to two groups: The Eagles and The Rattlers.
The study had three phases:
- Group Formation – Boys participated in bonding activities within their own groups.
- Intergroup Conflict – Competitive games were introduced.
- Conflict Resolution – Superordinate goals (e.g., fixing a broken-down truck together) were introduced to encourage cooperation.

Results:

Competition led to increased hostility, name-calling, and physical aggression.
The boys favored their in-group and held negative stereotypes about the out-group.
When superordinate goals were introduced, hostility decreased, and intergroup cooperation improved.

Conclusion: Conflict arises naturally when groups compete for resources and cooperation towards a shared goal can improve relations.

Evaluation:

The study's findings support the Realistic Conflict Theory.
The natural setting increases ecological validity, but results in a lack of control over extraneous variables.
There are ethical concerns with participants experiencing psychological distress and deception.
Participants cannot be generalized to other populations which results in a sampling bias.

Nice try, unfortunately this paywall isn't as easy to bypass as you think. Want to help devleop the site? Join the team at https://revisiondojo.com/join-us. exercitation voluptate cillum ullamco excepteur sint officia do tempor Lorem irure minim Lorem elit id voluptate reprehenderit voluptate laboris in nostrud qui non Lorem nostrud laborum culpa sit occaecat reprehenderit

Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit.

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

Definition

Cooperation: Intergroup pro-social behavior that benefits interests of others, fostering mutual gains. This can involve both parties benefiting or one acting at their own expense for the benefit of others.
- "I win, you win" or "I lose, you win"
Competition: Interpersonal or intergroup behavior aimed at benefiting oneself, often at the expense of others.
- "I win, you lose"

Realistic Conflict Theory

Main Claims:

Negative goal interdependence: one group can only succeed if they other fails. This fosters ingroup favoritism, discriminatory behavior, and hostility towards the outgroup.
Contact alone is insufficient: bringing groups into contact does not resolve conflict.
Positive goal interdependence: Conflict can only be reduced by having groups rely on each other and work together towards superordinate goals (common goals).

Case study

Sherif et al. (1954):

Aim: To investigate the formation and resolution of intergroup conflict as well how competition for resources leads to hostility and whether working towards a shared goal reduces conflict.

Method:

A field experiment conducted at Robbers Cave State Park, Oklahoma, where 22 boys (aged 11-12) from similar socio-economic backgrounds were randomly assigned to two groups: The Eagles and The Rattlers.
The study had three phases:
- Group Formation – Boys participated in bonding activities within their own groups.
- Intergroup Conflict – Competitive games were introduced.
- Conflict Resolution – Superordinate goals (e.g., fixing a broken-down truck together) were introduced to encourage cooperation.

Results:

Competition led to increased hostility, name-calling, and physical aggression.
The boys favored their in-group and held negative stereotypes about the out-group.
When superordinate goals were introduced, hostility decreased, and intergroup cooperation improved.

Conclusion: Conflict arises naturally when groups compete for resources and cooperation towards a shared goal can improve relations.

Evaluation:

The study's findings support the Realistic Conflict Theory.
The natural setting increases ecological validity, but results in a lack of control over extraneous variables.
There are ethical concerns with participants experiencing psychological distress and deception.
Participants cannot be generalized to other populations which results in a sampling bias.

Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

Biological Approach4 subtopics

Cognitive Approach4 subtopics

Sociocultural Approach4 subtopics

Option 1: Abnormal Psychology3 subtopics

Option 2: Developmental Psychology3 subtopics

Option 3: Health Psychology3 subtopics

Option 4: Human Relationships3 subtopics

IB Psychology Cooperation and Competition Notes

Biological Approach4 subtopics

Cognitive Approach4 subtopics

Sociocultural Approach4 subtopics

Option 1: Abnormal Psychology3 subtopics

Option 2: Developmental Psychology3 subtopics

Option 3: Health Psychology3 subtopics

Option 4: Human Relationships3 subtopics

Definition

Realistic Conflict Theory

Sherif et al. (1954):

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

Definition

Realistic Conflict Theory

Sherif et al. (1954):

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account