LASA 2 Reducing Intergroup Conflict - Research Paper Example

Intergroup conflicts generally arise due to various features such as stereotypes, discrimination and prejudice. The various strategies that can be applied in order to overcome the intergroup conflicts include effective group formation, intergroup cooperation and competition. These significant strategies would not only support in solving intergroup conflicts but also assist to work together. Overview Intergroup conflict denotes disagreement between groups within an organization. It generally occurs when the different members of a group work together.

The significant factors which include individual leadership style and status within a group are considered to be the prime causes of generating intergroup conflicts. Moreover, the other imperative factors such as discrimination, prejudice and stereotypes also lead towards occurring intergroup conflicts. The crucial issue of intergroup conflict can be regarded as one of the serious aspect upon the community as well as in any workplace (Ferguson, 2004). In this paper, the concepts such as prejudice, stereotypes and discrimination that lead to intergroup conflict and how the aforesaid factors perpetuated the ongoing conflict relating to the adolescent boys will be taken into concern.

Moreover, the different strategies to reduce intergroup conflict will also be portrayed in the discussion. Concepts Lead to Intergroup Conflict Stereotype Stereotype is fundamentally referred to as a thought or an idea about performing certain activities by an individual. Stereotypes can be classified into cultural and individual stereotype. In this similar context, the cultural stereotype is denoted as a community based sets of beliefs. Conversely, the individual stereotype is viewed as a series of activities that perform by an individual within a social group.

Various empirical evidences suggest that stereotypes possess significant impact upon the behavior as well as the attitudes of a social group (Ferguson, 2004). Prejudice The aspect of prejudice is often referred to provide unfavorable judgments towards any individual on the basis of social class, religion, age, disability and nationality among others (Ferguson, 2004). Discrimination The feature of discrimination is viewed to be a distinguishing or a prejudicial treatment of any people on the basis of his/her performed activities.

It generally involves the initial reaction of an individual that influences his/her behavior towards the members of a social group (Ferguson, 2004). After acquiring a brief idea about the aforementioned concepts, it can be stated that those attitudes and behaviors ultimately created and perpetuated the ongoing conflict. From the perspective of stereotype concept, it can be assumed that the activities which performed by the adolescent boys ultimately raised intergroup conflict. In this regard, the type of cultural stereotype can be linked with the raised intergroup conflict.

The concept of prejudice perpetuated the intergroup conflict by creating disparities and competition amid the boys which ultimately led to aggression and thus intergroup conflict emerged. Finally, the facet of discrimination created the conflict by arising significant differences in the opinions of the boys on the basis of caste, nationality and social class (Hewstone, Rubin & Willis., 2002). Different Strategies to Reduce Intergroup Conflict Intergroup conflict possesses both emotional and societal components which are considered to be the stimulating factors for causing intergroup bias.

Therefore individual and intergroup approaches can be applied to reduce the intergroup bias relating to intergroup conflict. From the perspective of individual approach, it can be stated that honoring as well as respecting the ideas or the opinions of the boys irrespective of social class and national among others can be regarded as one of the effective strategies to diminish intergroup conflict by a greater extent. In relation to intergroup approac