Conflict within Groups

Outline Conflict Competition and Conflict

Class Activity

Mixed Motive Situations Social Dilemmas

Class Activity

Threats and competition

Conflict What is it?

Disagreement, discord and friction that occurs when the actions or beliefs of one or more members of the group are unacceptable to and resisted by one or more other group members.

Conflict is unavoidable in groups Interdependence increases chances of clashing

likes and dislikes opinions and perspectives motives and goals

Types of Conflict Personal conflict

Interpersonal discord when group members dislike each other

Substantive conflict Disagreements over issues that are relevant to the

group’s real goals and outcomes Procedural conflicts

Disagreements over the methods the group should use to complete its basic tasks

Disagreeing on how to disagree!

Class Activity General Instructions

The aim of this activity is to investigate behavior in small groups. Participants will be divided into groups of two, with one experimenter. Each group of two people will work on a task at which they will attempt to accumulate points. After completing the task, participants will be asked to perform another similar task.

Competition and Conflict Competition

Situation in which any one member of the group will succeed only if another member of the group fails

Cooperation Situation in which the success of any one

member improves the chance of other members succeeding

Competition and Conflict Competition promotes conflict

Sabotage other, criticize them, withhold info.

Effects of competition (Deutsch, 1949) Two types of grading systems

Competitive Cooperative

Results: Conflicts more pronounced in competitive groups Cooperative ppl were friendlier, more supportive

Mixed-Motive Situations Most situations:

Motive to compete and the motive to cooperate

Laboratory technique: Prisoner’s dilemma game (PDG) Analogous to 2 criminals whose fates depend on

their trust Must choose to cooperate or to compete

5 years 5 years

10 years 0 years

0 years 10 years

1 year 1 year

Confesses

Confesses

Doesn’t confess

Doesn’t confess

John

Jane

Prisoner’s Dilemma Online Interactive prisoner's dilemma

Interactive prisoner's dilemma

GAME RULES Rule #1:

The number of objects left in the bowl at the end of every 10 seconds will double. (max: 14)

Rule #2: The object of the game is for the players to

acquire as many objects as possible.

Rule #3: Players cannot communicate with each other

Social Dilemmas Social dilemmas

Individuals must choose between maximizing their personal outcomes and maximizing their group’s outcomes

Dividing resources Equity norm

Distributing resources in proportion to inputs Equality norm

Distributing resources equally among all members

Resource Dilemma Tragedy of the commons

Resource dilemma (social trap) A situation that tempts ppl to

act in ways that will benefit them but will prove detrimental in the long run to them and the group

Threats and Competition The capacity to threaten others sets up

conflict situation Actual use of threat serves to intensify

conflict If one party threatens the other, the

threatened party will fare best if it cannot respond

Open communication not always good!

Threats and Competition Trucking game simulation (Deutsch & Krauss, 1960)

SS role play owners of trucking companies ACME and BOLT carried merchandise over roads Earned $.60 each trip minus $.01 per second Conditions:

Unilateral threat condition Bilateral threat condition Control

Trucking Game Simulation

ACMEstart

BOLTstart

ACMEdestination

BOLTdestination

Direct Route

Alternative Route

Alternative Route

Acme’s Gate Bolt’s Gate

Trucking Game Simulation http://www.worthpublishers.com/exploring/

content/psychsim/index.htm

Found under social decision making