In one line: Groups decide what feels normal, so changing a group's norms can change its behaviour.
Group behaviour is explained by the sociocultural tools of Unit 2: conformity, social identity, social learning, compliance, culture and acculturation. HL answers use them to explain and to change behaviour between groups.
Social identity theory in three steps
Categorise
We sort people into groups: our team, their team.
Identify
We take on our group's identity and its norms.
Compare
We compare our group favourably with others, which boosts self-esteem and can turn into favouritism or prejudice.
Categorise · Identify · Compare
What HL adds: The culture extension: whether people follow their group depends on how collectivist the culture is.
The guide asks how theories change group behaviour: give a real programme.
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Key idea: Conflict grows from competition and identity; it shrinks with contact, shared goals and a shared identity.
Three ways to reduce conflict
Contact
Meeting as equals, with support from those in charge (Allport's contact conditions).
Shared goals
A goal neither group can reach alone turns rivals into partners.
A shared identity
A bigger group that includes both: 'them' becomes part of 'us'.
Meet · Need each other · Become 'us'
Sherif and colleagues (1961) created conflict between two camps of boys through competition and ended it with shared goals. Aronson's jigsaw classroom made pupils from different groups depend on each other, and prejudice fell.
Prejudice or discrimination: Prejudice is the attitude, discrimination the action. Paluck's drama changed actions and norms more than attitudes.
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Key idea: Field experiments test change in real groups; classic lab and camp studies explain the causes.
What supports it
- Paluck: a randomised field experiment in real communities
- Sherif: conflict and its end, step by step
- Jigsaw: cooperation used in real schools
Where to be careful
- Norms changed more than private beliefs
- Robbers Cave: 22 similar boys, a set-up camp
- Results depend on culture and context
So theories of group behaviour can be used to change it, as Paluck showed, but changes in what people do may run ahead of changes in what they believe.
Watch out: Do not stop at explaining. HL questions ask how a theory changes group behaviour.