Theories of Intergroup Relations | Cambridge University Press & Assessment
cambridge.org
Why do groups clash, cooperate, or dominate each other? Cambridge's sweeping survey of intergroup theory reveals the hidden frameworks that explain everything from office politics to genocide.
Social Identity TheoryRealistic Conflict TheoryIrrationalismIntergroup Contact Theory
Theory Briefing
- Cambridge traces intergroup conflict through identity-based theories, showing how group membership alone can trigger discrimination and hostility.
- Materialist frameworks in the book argue that competition over scarce resources — not mere prejudice — drives much intergroup aggression.
- Irrationalist theories reveal how crowd psychology and unconscious bias can override rational self-interest in group conflicts.