Return to Robbers Cave: Co-existence between Groups in Conflict

该项目评估一项独特方案的影响，该方案旨在促进目前处于激烈和旷日持久冲突中的民族和族裔群体之间的和平共处。这项研究的一个目的是建立一个发展模型，说明随着时间的推移，自我、内部和外部群体感知的变化如何与改善群体间关系有关。参与者包括来自中东和塞浦路斯等几个紧张地区的成年领导人和青少年男女(13-16岁)。参与者在缅因州的夏令营和平种子国际夏令营度过三个星期。夏令营计划包括旨在加强小组成员之间合作平等地位联系的活动，促进信息交流，并教授沟通和共存的技能。自1993年成立以来，已有1400多人从夏令营“毕业”。尽管该计划在国内和国际上受到了极大的关注，但还没有关于其影响的研究。夏令营参与者的认知和行为变化将与由不参加夏令营的个人组成的对照组进行比较。将收集各种具有应用和理论重要性的维度的数据。这些数据包括自尊、自我认同、对内部群体和外部群体的刻板印象、对群体同质性和威胁的看法，以及不同群体成员之间的行为。研究结果将解决三个问题：1)夏令营体验对夏令营不同群体之间的关系产生积极影响的程度；2)夏令营中发生的观念和行为的变化是否普遍适用于露营者所代表的更大的群体；以及3)这些变化在较长的一段时间内(20-24个月)持续的程度。该项目是检验和扩展群体间关系理论的一个特殊机会。评估该计划所采用的措施是基于现有的社会心理学理论和研究。结果表明，群间接触对群间吸引的影响是持久的。还将审查有关冲突强度如何影响群体间接触影响的假设。这种设计允许比较接触对自我、内部群体和外部群体感知的影响。将对陈规定型观念的几个组成部分(能力、温暖、突出和同质性)进行衡量，并与改善群体间关系有关。将从答复中推断出重新归类和交叉归类等基本过程。这项研究意义重大，因为它使用了基于理论的措施来检查旨在解决关键社会问题的计划。该研究项目也代表了一家学术机构和私人非营利组织之间的合作努力。

This project evaluates the impact of a unique program aimed at promoting peaceful co-existence between national and ethnic groups currently involved in intense and protracted conflict. One aim of the research is to develop a developmental model of how changes in perceptions of the self, ingroup, and outgroups relate to improving intergroup relations over time. Participants include adult leaders and adolescent males and females (ages 13-16) from several regions of tension including the Middle East and Cyprus. Participants spend three weeks at the Seeds of Peace International Camp, in a summer camp in Maine. The camp program includes activities designed to enhance cooperative equal status contact between group members, promote the exchange of information, and teach skills of communication and co-existence. Since its inception in 1993, over 1400 individuals have "graduated" from the camp. Although the program has received significant national and international attention, there has been no study of its impact. Changes in the cognition and behaviors of camp participants will be compared with a Control Group composed of individuals who do not attend the camp. Data will be collected on a variety of dimensions that have both applied and theoretical importance. These data include self-esteem, self-identity, stereotypes of ingroup and outgroups, perceptions of group homogeneity and threat, and behaviors between members of the different groups. The results of the study will address three issues: 1) The degree to which the camp experience has a positive effect on the relationship between the different groups at the camp; 2) Whether changes in the perceptions and behaviors that occur at camp generalize to the larger groups represented by the campers; and 3) The extent to which these changes endure over an extended time period (20-24 months). The project represents a special opportunity to test and extend theories of intergroup relations. The measures employed to evaluate the program are based on existing social psychological theories and research. The results will indicate the longevity of the effects of intergroup contact on intergroup attraction. Hypotheses relating to how intensity of conflict affects the influence of intergroup contact will also be examined. The design allows a comparison of the effects of contact on perceptions of the self, the ingroup, and outgroups. Several components of stereotypes (competence, warmth, salience, and homogeneity) will be measured and related to improving intergroup relations. Underlying processes such as recategorization and cross-categorization will be inferred from responses. The research is significant because it employs theoretically-based measures to examine a program that is designed to address a critical social problem. The research program also represents a cooperative effort between an academic institution and private nonprofit organization.