Social Conflict, Harmony, and Integration

Abstract

This chapter examines the psychological bases of intergroup bias and conflict and considers how greater understanding of these psychological processes can guide interventions to reduce bias and facilitate social integration. The chapter first presents a brief historical overview of empirical and theoretical emphases in the social psychological study of intergroup relations. Then it reviews the normal and generally functional cognitive, motivational, interpersonal, and social processes that can contribute to the development of intergroup bias and social conflict. The chapter then explores how intergroup interactions, between individual members of different groups or between two groups collectively, can both reflect and reinforce intergroup bias and conflict. We emphasize, however, that understanding the processes creating intergroup bias and conflict can inform strategies to harness these influences to improve intergroup attitudes, encourage reconciliation, and create stable and productive social integration. The chapter concludes by outlining how these different processes operate in concert and considering the practical and theoretical implications.