ABSTRACT
Inter-group behavior is ‘behavior which occurs between an individual (or individuals) belonging to one group and an individual (or individuals) belonging to another group, either or both acting in terms of their respective group membership’. The classic work on inter-group behavior was carried out by Sherif, on two groups of 12–year-old boys attending summer camp. In a group formation phase, each group engaged in typical camp activities like cooking, swimming and so on, unaware of the other group’s existence. Over the course of a week, intra-group structure developed. In phase two of the study the boys met and competed with each other, which led to inter-group rivalry and conflict. Interactions became unpleasant and ethnocentrism developed. In phase three Sherif introduced super-ordinate goals, which reduced conflict and united the two groups.
