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The Lost Boys: Inside Muzafer Sherif's Robbers Cave Experiments

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( 186 ratings, 24 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Lost Boys: Inside Muzafer Sherif's Robbers Cave Experiments by Gina Perry delves into a fascinating yet controversial psychological study conducted in the 1950s. It uncovers the dynamics of group behaviour and conflict among boys at a summer camp, orchestrated to observe intergroup hostility. Through meticulous research and firsthand accounts, the book examines the ethical dimensions and impact of these influential social psychology experiments.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by psychological experiments and their impact on human behaviour. It delves into the controversial Robbers Cave study, exploring how it influenced our understanding of group dynamics and conflict, offering a gripping look at scientific ethics and the lives of the young participants.

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Competition. Prejudice. Discrimination. Conflict.

Competition. Prejudice. Discrimination. Conflict.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

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, the experiment officially 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.

'When the first punch is thrown in the opening chapter, you know you're in for a wild ride. In The Lost Boys, academic sleuth Gina Perry investigates the back story of a real-life Lord of the Flies study of human behaviour at a summer camp. The fascinating journey—with takes us through the history of psychology, Turkey, and even American summer camps—reads more like a detective novel than a psychological history book.' - Susannah Cahalan, author of the New York Times bestseller Brain on Fire

'This is a wonderful book; I couldn't stop reading once I started. Gina Perry is not only a thorough researcher, she's also a great writer. A lot of psychology textbooks will have to be updated after her groundbreaking research.' - Rutger Bregman, author of The Sunday Times bestseller Utopia for Realists

'This long profile of him Sherif, and description of his experiment, will likely remain unsurpassed.' - Publishers Weekly

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Lost Boys: Inside Muzafer Sherif's Robbers Cave Experiments by Gina Perry offers a gripping exploration of the controversial psychological experiments conducted in the 1950s. Reviewers praise Perry's meticulous research and engaging storytelling, highlighting how the book delves into ethical concerns and the human impact of these experiments. Many commend the way she brings to light the stories of the young boys involved, providing a fresh perspective on a well-known psychological study.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781925322354

Publisher: Scribe Publications

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 16 April 2018

Country: Australia

Imprint: Scribe Publications

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 135.0mm

Height: 210.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 384

About the Author

Gina Perry is an Australian writer whose 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.

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