In 1954, psychologists assembled 22 fifth-grade boys, split them into two camps, and observed how rivalry turned to friendship.
This was the famous Robbers Cave Experiment. The boys were quartered in Robbers Cave State Park, Oklahoma, with an interesting twist—neither group knew of the other’s existence. In the first week, the groups bonded in isolation through activities such as swimming, hiking, and playing. Eventually, the groups named themselves the “Eagles” and the other the “Rattlers,” proudly displaying their new names on their shirts and flags.
