A vast body of research deriving from intergroup contact theory suggests that. All humans belong to many different types of social groups, ranging from smaller groupings of people such as ones circles of friends to larger social categories such as gender. Pettigrew and tropp 2006 williams 1947 intergroup contact would maximally reduce prejudice when the two groups share similar status, interests, and tasks and when the situation fosters personal, intimate intergroup contact allport 1954 intergroup contact theory contact of groups under optimal conditions could reduce. Intergroup contact theory has been one of the most influential theories in social psychology since it was first formulated by gordon allport in 1954. Dovidio, miles hewstone, peter glick, and victoria m. Popularized by scholars like allport 1954 and pettigrew 1998, this theory explains how prejudice between groups of people can decrease through collaborative, interdependent activities. Allports 1954 hypothesis that contact between social groups will typically lead to. Contact is of utmost importance in reducing prejudice and promoting a more tolerant and integrated society and as such is a prime example of the real life applications that psychology can offer the world. The premise of allports theory states that under appropriate conditions interpersonal contact is one of the most effective ways to reduce prejudice between majority and minority group members.
The chapter outlines a longitudinal intergroup contact theory. Intergroup definition of intergroup by the free dictionary. Published by the press syndicate of the university of cambridge the pitt building, trumpington street, cambridge, united kingdom. Allport is often credited with the development of the contact hypothesis, also known as intergroup contact theory. In psychology and other social sciences, the contact hypothesis suggests that intergroup contact under appropriate conditions can effectively reduce prejudice between majority and minority group members. The present article presents a metaanalytic test of intergroup contact theory. Individual, group, and collective interests gary bornstein department of psychology and center for the study of rationality the hebrew university of jerusalem intergroup conflicts generally involve conflicts of interests within the competing groups as well. An intergroup theory of social hierarchy and oppression. This paper evaluates the state of contact hypothesis research from a policy perspective.
The contact hypothesisintergroup contact theory youtube. Nagda university of washington patricia gurin and kelly e. Prejudice people avoid intergroup contact so data sample already skewed. A metaanalytic test of intergroup contact theory thomas f. Extending the benefits of intergroup contact beyond attitudes. Expanding previous research on indirect intergroup contact, vicarious contact 1 integrates and applies concepts of socialcognitive theory bandura, 1986 to the field of intergroup contact research. Recent years have witnessed a renewal of interest in intergroup contact theory. Implications of missing critical variables from an analysis of intergroup contact theory. The generalization of effects problem nor does the hypothesis specify how the effects generalize beyond the immediate situation.
A growing body of research has demonstrated the importance of intergroup contact in reducing fear, threat and anxiety in intergroup domains. Intergroup emotions are shaped by the very different ways in which members of different. Labbased and realworld studies have examined the impact of different types of interactions including facetoface contact, indirect forms of contact, and. Just as intergroup contact theory predicts, this vast heterogeneity of effects is shaped by the varying conditions under which the contact takes place. The basic tenet of intergroup contact theory is that contact with outgroups reduces tension and improves intergroup attitudes. With 7 independent samples from 515 studies, the metaanalysis finds that intergroup contact typically reduces intergroup. Intergroup emotions theory seeks to understand and improve intergroup relations by focusing on the emotions engendered by belonging to, and by deriving identity from, a social group processes called selfcategorization and identification. Pettigrew university of california, santa cruz linda r. This article outlines a taxonomy of games, called team games, which. A cultural perspective on intergroup relations and social identity abstract violent instances of intergroup conflict in recent memory have usually involved cultural groups, but theory and research on the psychology of intergroup relations is largely culture free. The contact hypothesis reevaluated behavioural public. Since the theorys inception, psychologists have added more and more criteria to what is required. In a second step, based on allports intergroup contact theory that contact with outgroup members may improve attitudes towards these outgroups and other related findings, we examine the longitudinal processes between positive intergroup contact with foreigners and attitudes towards foreigners using four waves of the gesis panel collected over approximately one and a half years.
An intergroup theory of social hierarchy and oppression jim sidanius felicia pratto. In terms of intergroup relations, he applied his formula of b. P, e behavior is a function of the person and their environment to group behavior. The theory behind this formula, which emphasizes that context shapes behavior in conjunction with an individuals motivations and beliefs, is a cornerstone of social psychological research. Pdf the contact hypothesis allport, 1954 is one of the most influential and longstanding theories of prejudice reduction. Intergroup conflict free online psychology dictionary. Following wwii and the desegregation of the military and other public institutions, policymakers and social scientists had turned an eye towards the policy implications of interracial contact. Understanding and responding to intergroup conflict.
A criticaldialogic model for effective intergroup interaction nicholas sorensen. This body of work has specified conditions under which contact is most likely to reduce intergroup prejudice, the kinds of contact experiences that encourage prejudice reduction, and several. Esses abstract this chapter has two main objectives. Intergroup contact theory intergroup contact theory pettigrew, thomas f. In particular, allport held that reduced prejudice will.
Such generalization is pivotal if intergroup contact is to have broad and lasting consequences. Varied research supports the hypothesis, but four problems remain. Reducing intergroup conflict through contact association. This handbook chapter is a concise and uptodate summary of social psychological theory and research on prejudice and intergroup bias, and the methods to reduce it. This volume highlights, via a critical lens, the most notable recent developments in the field, demonstrating its vitality and its capacity for reinvention. In psychology and other social sciences, the contact hypothesis suggests that intergroup. A cultural perspective on intergroup relations and social.
Services include an online meeting directory, help by email for a drinking problem, and a calendar of worldwide aa events. We hypothesized that past intergroup contact would facilitate recovery from a stressful intergroup. A longstanding line of research that aims to combat bias among conflicting groups springs from a theory called the contact hypothesis. The contact hypothesis the intergroup contact hypothesis. On the nature of prejudice commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of gordon allports classic work on prejudice and discrimination by examining the current state of knowledge in the field.
The intergroup contact hypothesis was first proposed by allport 1954, who suggested that positive effects of intergroup contact occur in contact situations characterized by four key conditions. The effects of ingroup and outgroup friendships on ethnic. Social psychological research on intergroup relations concerns the perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors humans express when they think of themselves and others as members of social groups. A broader theory of intergroup contact requires an explicit specification of the processes involved, which i provide below. Intergroup contact facilitates physiological recovery. Finally, both individual differences and societal norms shape intergroup contact effects. Multiple tests indicate that this finding appears not to result from either. A and the jim crow laws, gordon allport 1954 proposed one of the most important social psychological events of the 20th century, suggesting that contact between members of different groups under certain conditions can work to reduce prejudice and intergroup conflict. Allports original conditions for optimal contact equal status, common goals, no intergroup competition, and authority sanction facilitate the effect but are not. Read article for free, from open access legal sources, via unpaywall. With 7 independent samples from 515 studies, the metaanalysis finds that intergroup contact typically reduces intergroup prejudice. The two most prominent theories, realistic group conflict theory.
The original contact hypothesis by allport 1954 speci. Indeed, virtual intergroup contact reduces prejudiced attitudes towards. Intergroup conflict psychology oxford bibliographies. Past, present, and future, authorjim a c everett and diana onu, year20 jim a c everett, diana onu published 20 in the midst of racial segregation in the u. The intergroup contact theory is based on the idea that interactions between members of different groups help improve intergroup attitudes and reduce intergroup tensions and prejudice. Tropp boston college the present article presents a metaanalytic test of intergroup contact theory. Apllort hypothesised that properly managed contact between groups should reduce these problems and lead to better interactions. The focus here is on individuallevel psychological processes and interpersonal interactions in intergroup conflict, rather than on. Developed in the 1950s by gordon allport, phd, the theory holds that contact between two groups can promote tolerance and acceptance, but only under certain conditions, such as equal status among groups and common goals. It distinguishes between essential and facilitating factors, and emphasizes different outcomes for different stages of contact.
Recent advances in intergroup contact theory sciencedirect. Criticism for allports contact theory regarding generalization hypothesis does not consider how these effects will be seen outside the immediate contact situation, how they will generalize to other groups. This may involve physical violence, interpersonal discord and. We call for a new generation of research on intergroup contact that. Allport specified four conditions for optimal intergroup contact. This volume highlights, via a critical lens, the most notable recent developments in the field, demonstrating its vitality and its capacity for reinve. Of this conceptualization for intergroup relations in stratified societies md insti are both evident and whenever so dlvlslon as power, prestige, walthbetween groups. His formulation of intergroup contact theory maintained that contact between groups under optimal conditions could effectively reduce intergroup prejudice. Gordon allports 1954 contact hypothesis has inspired desegregation policies around the world. Data for this longitudinal study were collected from over 2000 white, asian, latino, and african american college students. Results indicated that students who exhibited more ingroup bias and intergroup anxiety at the end of their first year of college had fewer outgroup friends and more ingroup friends during their second and third years of college, controlling for precollege friendships and. First, following intergroup contact theory allport, 1954 individual prejudice scores are the dominant outcome assessed in intergroup contact. This final video assignment describes and uses supporting detail to to summarize the contact hypothesis, also called intergroup contact theory. Gordon allports contact hypothesis facing history and.
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