The application of intergroup relations to the case of ritual combat involving new British naval recruitsTeams and work groups operate in contexts of organizational and interdependent relationships. These organizational groups are interdependent in that they function to achieve the goals of the entire organization. Groups rely on each other for valuable information needed to operate. In business, the marketing department may depend on production to capture more markets, while the production department may depend on marketing to moderate its production. Intra-group relations follow similar processes, but apply within the group. Group members form bonds for interdependent individual dependence. Group favoritism usually manifests itself when group members give rise to group value. Members feel obligated towards their own group and regard them higher than others who are not part of the group (Maddux, 2007). The need to belong is sometimes so strong within a group that members are ready to do everything possible to blend in well with the group. At other times, other psychological factors come into play and cause group members to condone acts committed against them that they would not condone in other circumstances. This article analyzes intra-group and inter-group processes as exhibited in a British Marine ritual reported in "The Guardian" involving mistreatment of new army recruits (Marines under fire in ritual beating film, 2005). The story in "The Guardian" is about a ritual combat involving new recruits to the British Navy. The story contains four photographs depicting two naked Marine recruits in the center of a circle of other naked soldiers, forced to fight with mats wrapped around their hands. A photo shows the...... middle of paper ......d=17718Marines under fire from film of ritual beatings. (2005, November 28). Retrieved from The Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/nov/28/military.immigrationpolicy Organ, DW, (1988). Organizational citizenship behavior: The good soldier syndrome. Lexington, MA: Lexington Books. Pruitt, DG and Carnevale, PJ, (1993). Negotiation in a social conflict. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole. Sherif, M., (1966). Group conflict and cooperation: their social psychology. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul. Tajfel, H. and Turner, JC, (1986). The social identity theory of intergroup behavior. In S. Worchel and W. G. Austin (eds.). Psychology of intergroup relations (pp. 7-24). Chicago: Nelson-Hall Publishers. Turner, JC, Hogg, MA, Oakes, PJ, Reicher, SD and Wetherell, MS, (1987).Rediscovering the social group. A theory of self-categorization. Oxford, United Kingdom: Blackwell.