The "Robbers Cave" experiment illustrated that the 'Contact hypothesis' is effective in reducing prejudice by having groups work together towards a common goal.
The Robbers Cave experiment conducted by Sherif et al. (1961) showed the value of A. Contact hypothesis in combating prejudice. This experiment found that when two opposing groups engaged in activities toward a common goal, their prejudicial attitudes towards each other decreased. The research highlighted that by focusing on superordinate goals, it is possible to change attitudes and reduce prejudice between groups. The contact hypothesis suggests that positive contact between group members under the right conditions can lead to a decrease in prejudicial attitudes, as supported by the work of Pettigrew and Tropp (2006). These conditions typically include equal status among group members, common objectives, and support from authorities or the institution.