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Inside Muzafer Sherif's Robbers Cave Experiments. The fascinating true story of one of the most controversial psychological experiments of the modern era. In 1954, a group of boys attended a remote summer camp where they were split into two groups, and forced to bully, harass, and demonise members of the other group. The results would make history as one of social psychology's classic studies: the Robbers Cave experiment. Conducted at the height of the Cold War, officially the experiment had a happy ending: the boys reconciled, and psychologist Muzafer Sherif demonstrated that while hatred and violence are powerful forces, so is cooperation and harmony.
About the author
Gina Perry is an Australian writer. Her feature articles, columns, and essays have been published in The Age and The Australian, and her short fiction has been published in a number of literary magazines, including Meanjin, Westerly, and Island. Her first book, Behind the Shock Machine, was about Stanley Milgram’s obedience experiences, and her co-production of the ABC Radio National documentary on the experiments won the Silver World Medal for a history documentary in the 2009 New York Festivals radio award. In 2013 she was a finalist in the UNSW Bragg Prize for Science Writing.
Summary
An Irish Independent book of the year.
The fascinating true story of one of the most controversial psychological experiments of the modern era — a real-life Lord of the Flies.
Competition. Prejudice. Discrimination. Conflict.
In 1954, a group of boys attended a remote summer camp where they were split into two groups, and encouraged to bully, harass, and demonise each other. The results would make history as one of social psychology’s classic — and most controversial — studies: the Robbers Cave experiment.
Conducted at the height of the Cold War, officially the experiment had a happy ending: the boys reconciled, and psychologist Muzafer Sherif demonstrated that while hatred and violence are powerful forces, so too are cooperation and harmony. Today it is proffered as proof that under the right conditions warring groups can make peace. Yet the true story of the experiments is far more complex, and more chilling.
In The Lost Boys, Gina Perry explores the experiment and its consequences, tracing the story of Sherif, a troubled outsider who struggled to craft an experiment that would vanquish his personal demons. Drawing on archival material and new interviews, Perry pieces together a story of drama, mutiny, and intrigue that has never been told before.
Foreword
The fascinating true story of one of the most controversial psychological experiments of the modern era - a real-life Lord of the Flies.
Additional text
Praise for Behind the Shock Machine'Fine, thought-provoking science writing.'
