Deck 7

Psych212

Intergroup Contact Theory

The theory that positive contact between members of different groups can reduce prejudice and improve intergroup relations.

Who is most associated with Intergroup Contact Theory?

Gordon Allport.

What is the primary goal of Intergroup Contact Theory?

To reduce prejudice and intergroup conflict.

According to Intergroup Contact Theory, does contact always reduce prejudice?

No, contact reduces prejudice most effectively under optimal conditions.

What are the four original optimal conditions of contact?

Equal status, cooperation, common goals, and institutional support.

What is equal status in contact situations?

Members of different groups interact on an equal footing.

Why is equal status important?

It reduces the reinforcement of existing power differences.

What is cooperation in contact situations?

Working together rather than competing.

Why does cooperation reduce prejudice?

It promotes positive interdependence and shared success.

What is a common goal?

A goal that both groups must work together to achieve.

Why do common goals improve intergroup relations?

They shift focus from differences to shared outcomes.

What is institutional support?

Support from authorities, organizations, or social norms for positive contact.

Why is institutional support important?

It legitimizes positive intergroup interactions.

What additional optimal condition was later proposed?

Group salience.

What is group salience?

Awareness that the interaction involves members of different social groups.

Why might group salience improve prejudice reduction?

Positive experiences can generalize to perceptions of the wider group.

Is group salience essential according to Thomas Pettigrew and Linda Tropp (2008)?

No, it helps but is not essential.

What is acquaintance potential?

The opportunity to develop meaningful relationships and friendships.

Why is acquaintance potential important?

Friendships are among the strongest predictors of prejudice reduction.

What are four proposed benefits of positive intergroup contact?

Reduced prejudice, reduced anxiety, increased trust, and increased empathy.

How does contact affect prejudice?

It generally reduces prejudice toward outgroup members.

How does contact affect trust?

It increases trust between groups.

How does contact affect empathy?

It increases understanding of outgroup experiences.

How does contact affect intergroup warmth?

It increases positive feelings toward outgroups.

How does contact influence social inclusion?

It promotes feelings of belonging in wider society.

How does contact affect willingness to help outgroup members?

It increases helping behaviour.

How does contact affect social networks?

It promotes more diverse social networks.

How does contact influence beliefs about outgroup intentions?

It leads to more positive assumptions about outgroup motives.

How does contact affect reconciliation?

It increases willingness to forgive and reconcile.

How does contact influence attitudes toward violent conflicts?

It increases support for peaceful resolution.

How can contact affect attitudes toward affirmative action?

It reduces opposition among majority group members.

How can contact affect immigration attitudes?

It increases support for pro--immigration policies.

How does contact affect support for reparations?

It increases willingness to compromise and provide compensation.

What does "positive contact begets positive contact" mean?

Good contact experiences increase the likelihood of future positive contact.

What is direct contact?

Face-to-face interaction with outgroup members.

What is indirect contact?

Attitude change occurring through others' experiences rather than direct interaction.

What is imagined contact?

Mentally simulating a positive interaction with an outgroup member.

What is extended contact?

Knowing that an ingroup member has a friendship with an outgroup member.

What is online contact?

Intergroup interaction through digital communication.

Can indirect contact reduce prejudice?

Yes.

Why is indirect contact useful?

It can reach people who have little opportunity for direct contact.

Why are stereotypes resistant to change?

Existing schemas filter and interpret new information.

What is subtyping?

Viewing stereotype-inconsistent individuals as exceptions.

Why does subtyping limit prejudice reduction?

It prevents positive experiences from changing overall group stereotypes.

Why was group salience proposed as a fifth condition?

To ensure positive experiences generalize beyond the individual.

What is one danger of increased group salience?

Negative experiences may also generalize to the whole group.

How can group salience increase anxiety?

Intergroup interactions may feel more threatening than interpersonal interactions.

What cognitive mechanism explains prejudice reduction through contact?

Weakening stereotypes.

How does contact weaken stereotypes?

New information challenges existing beliefs.

What is recategorization?

Seeing outgroup members as similar to one's ingroup.

How does recategorization reduce prejudice?

It expands the boundaries of "us."

What affective mechanism explains prejudice reduction?

Reduced intergroup anxiety.

How does anxiety reduction improve attitudes?

People become more comfortable with future interactions.

How does empathy reduce prejudice?

It promotes understanding of outgroup experiences.

How does trust reduce prejudice?

It lowers expectations of threat.

Why are intergroup contact settings often artificial?

They usually occur in structured environments such as schools or workplaces.

Do wider social inequalities disappear during contact?

No.

What do majority group members often focus on during contact?

Having a smooth and conflict-free interaction.

What do minority group members often focus on during contact?

How they are being perceived and judged.

Why do minority group members often have more intergroup experience?

They interact more frequently with majority groups.

What type of experiences are minority groups more likely to have encountered?

Negative or unequal intergroup experiences.

What causes anxiety among majority group members?

Concern about appearing prejudiced.

What is the self-image concern of majority groups?

Avoiding being viewed as biased.

How does contact affect majority group prejudice?

It often substantially reduces prejudice.

How does contact affect majority group anxiety?

It lowers future interaction anxiety.

Why are contact effects often weaker for minority groups?

Structural inequalities remain unchanged.

What concern do minority group members have regarding discrimination?

Being treated unfairly because of group membership.

What concern do minority groups have regarding status?

Contact may reinforce lower social status.

What are microaggressions?

Subtle, everyday forms of discrimination.

Why can minority groups be wary of contact?

Contact may not address broader inequalities.

What is the Sedative Effect?

Positive contact can reduce motivation for collective action among disadvantaged groups.

Why is it called the Sedative Effect?

Contact may reduce perceptions of injustice and urgency for change.

How can friendships with majority group members affect collective action?

They may reduce support for activism.

How does positive contact influence perceptions of discrimination?

It can reduce awareness of discrimination over time.

How can contact obscure inequality?

By focusing attention on similarities rather than differences in status.

How can contact undermine collective action?

Reduced perceptions of injustice lower motivation to act.

How can contact blur intergroup boundaries?

Members become less aware of group differences.

What are problem-solving workshops?

Structured dialogues between members of opposing groups.

What is intergroup dialogue?

Guided discussion aimed at improving understanding between groups.

What does SIMCA stand for?

Social Identity Model of Collective Action.

Who developed SIMCA?

Martijn van Zomeren, Tom Postmes, and Russell Spears (2008).

What does SIMCA explain?

Why people engage in collective action.

What are the three predictors of collective action in SIMCA?

Social identity, injustice, and efficacy.

What is social identity in SIMCA?

Identification with a group.

What is injustice in SIMCA?

Perceived unfair treatment of the group.

What is efficacy in SIMCA?

Belief that collective action can achieve change.

What is collective action?

Coordinated efforts to improve group conditions.

Which component of SIMCA connects injustice and efficacy?

Social identity.

Why is social identity important in SIMCA?

It motivates people to act on behalf of their group.

What happens when perceived injustice is high?

Motivation for collective action increases.

What happens when collective efficacy is high?

People are more likely to take action.

What is a criticism of SIMCA?

It does not fully explain how awareness develops.

Why is awareness important for collective action?

People must recognize injustice before acting.

How can fear influence collective action?

It can either motivate or discourage action.

What relationship is proposed between fear and action?

A possible U-shaped relationship.

How can fear motivate change?

By drawing attention to important threats.

How can fear reduce collective action?

By lowering perceptions of efficacy.

What should accompany fear appeals?

Clear actions people can take.

Why should fear appeals include solutions?

To increase efficacy beliefs.

What does ESIMCA stand for?

Encapsulated Social Identity Model of Collective Action.