India is known for her diversity, although in the face of any external threat all Indians unite to fight her common enemy. This inter group conflict finally becomes intergroup cooperation because of:-
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → focusing on superordinate goals
Option (1) focusing on superordinate goals — Correct. A superordinate goal is mutually beneficial to both parties, hence both groups work cooperatively. Sherif’s summer camp study showed that hostility between groups can be reduced by focusing on such goals. Defending the country against an external threat is a goal that every group in India shares, so the groups set aside their differences and cooperate.
Option (2) inter group competition — Incorrect. In Sherif’s study, competition between the groups brought in tension and hostility, so much so that they started calling each other names. Competition creates conflict; it does not turn it into cooperation.
Option (3) In group formation — Incorrect. Forming ingroups is the stage at which people are divided into ‘we’ and ‘they’, each group with its own norms. It is the starting point of intergroup conflict, not the way out of it.
Option (4) Friends among foes — Incorrect. ‘Friends among foes’ is not a strategy of conflict resolution. A few friendships across groups do not unite whole groups; a common goal that all of them need does.
Note: Superordinate goals as a way of reducing intergroup conflict were there in the pre-rationalised NCERT, which NTA followed in 2023, and are not there in the NCERT book (2025-26).
NCERT (Pre-rationalised): “Conflict Resolution Strategies … Introduction of superordinate goals : Sherif’s study, already mentioned in the section on cooperation and competition, showed that by introducing superordinate goals, intergroup conflict can be reduced. A superordinate goal is mutually beneficial to both parties, hence both groups work cooperatively.…”
Box 7.5: Sherif’s Summer Camp Experiments : A Journey from Ingroup Formation to Intergroup Competition and Finally Intergroup Cooperation (Pre-rationalised) |
