Intergroup conflict

This article outlines some of the main social-psychological bases of intergroup conflict, illustrating the many ways in which social psychology can contribute to the study of conflict. The most convincing theoretical account is provided by perspectives that concentrate on the distinct nature of intergroup phenomena (especially social identity theory). Two of the most promising social-psychological interventions to reduce intergroup conflict are also reviewed. The first is based on improving contact between members of previously hostile groups; the second attempts to change the structure of social categorizations (via decategorization, recategorization, and crossed categorization). This social-psychological perspective is proposed as a key part of a necessary, multi-disciplinary approach to intergroup conflict. Cet article presente certains des principaux fondements socio-psychologiques du conflit entre groupes et illustre les differentes facons par lesquelles la psychologie sociale peut contribuer a l'etude du conflit. L'interpretation theorique la plus convaincante provient des perspectives qui se concentrent sur la nature particuliere des phenomenes inter-groupes (particulierement la theorie de l'identite sociale). L'article examine aussi deux des interventions socio-psychologiques les plus prometteuses dans la reduction du conflit inter-groupes. La premiere est basee sur l'amelioration du contact entre membres de groupes anterieurement hostiles; la seconde essaie de changer la structure des categorisations sociales (par la decategorisation, la recategorisation et la categorisation croisee). Cette perspective socio-psychologique est vue comme une element-cle d'une approche multidisciplinaire du conflit inter-groupes