Muzafer Sherif

A picture of Ankara University in 1937, where Sherif published Irk Psikolojisi (1943) and The Changing World (1945)

Muzafer Sherif (1906 – 1988) was a pioneering figure in social psychology, whose work on group dynamics, social norms, and intergroup conflict has had a profound influence on the understanding of social behavior. Born in Odemis, Izmir, Turkey, Sherif was instrumental in developing several key concepts and theories in psychology, including the Realistic Conflict Theory and the famous Robbers Cave Experiment.

Early Life and Education

Muzafer Sherif was born into a Turkish family and pursued his initial education in Turkey. He later moved to the United States to further his studies, earning a Ph.D. in psychology from Columbia University in 1935. His dissertation, which focused on the social psychology of attitudes, laid the groundwork for his future research on social norms and group processes.

Career and Contributions

Sherif's career was marked by significant contributions to social psychology, particularly in the areas of social norms, group conflict, and group cohesion. One of his most notable theories, the Realistic Conflict Theory, suggests that intergroup conflict arises from competition over limited resources. This theory was further exemplified in his renowned Robbers Cave Experiment, where he demonstrated how conflict between groups could be induced and subsequently reduced through cooperative tasks that required intergroup cooperation.

Robbers Cave Experiment

The Robbers Cave Experiment is perhaps Sherif's most famous study, conducted in the 1950s at a boys' summer camp in Robbers Cave State Park, Oklahoma. The study involved dividing boys into two groups, creating conflict through competition, and then resolving the conflict through cooperative tasks. The findings illustrated how social groups can come into conflict through competition but can also overcome these conflicts through shared goals, highlighting the importance of superordinate goals in reducing intergroup hostility.

Social Norms

Sherif was also instrumental in the study of social norms, investigating how they are formed, maintained, and changed. His experiments on the autokinetic effect demonstrated how social norms could emerge in ambiguous situations, showing that individuals' estimates of a moving light's distance would converge over time when they were in groups, reflecting a group norm.

Legacy

Muzafer Sherif's work has left a lasting legacy in the field of social psychology, influencing subsequent research on group behavior, the psychology of prejudice and discrimination, and the resolution of social conflicts. His theories and experiments continue to be a foundation for understanding the complex dynamics of social interaction and group processes.

Selected Publications

Sherif authored several influential books and articles throughout his career, including:

• The Psychology of Social Norms (1936)
• An Outline of Social Psychology (1948)
• Groups in Harmony and Tension (1953)
• Intergroup Conflict and Cooperation: The Robbers Cave Experiment (1954, with Carolyn Wood Sherif)

Death

Muzafer Sherif passed away in 1988, leaving behind a body of work that continues to influence the fields of psychology and social sciences.