key term - Intergroup Contact

Definition

Intergroup contact refers to the interaction and engagement between members of different social groups, such as racial, ethnic, or religious groups. It is a concept that has been extensively studied in the field of social psychology, particularly in the context of prejudice and discrimination reduction.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Intergroup contact can help reduce prejudice and improve attitudes towards outgroup members, particularly when the contact involves equal status, common goals, intergroup cooperation, and institutional support.
2. The contact hypothesis, developed by Gordon Allport, suggests that under the right conditions, intergroup contact can lead to a reduction in prejudice and more positive intergroup relations.
3. Positive intergroup contact can challenge existing stereotypes, promote empathy and perspective-taking, and increase the perceived similarities between group members.
4. Factors such as the quality and quantity of intergroup contact, as well as the social context in which it occurs, can influence the effectiveness of intergroup contact in reducing prejudice.
5. Intergroup contact can have a positive impact on not only attitudes towards the outgroup but also on behavioral intentions and actual behavior towards outgroup members.

Review Questions

• Explain how intergroup contact can help reduce prejudice and improve intergroup relations.
  • Intergroup contact, when occurring under the right conditions, can help reduce prejudice and improve intergroup relations in several ways. First, it can challenge existing stereotypes by providing opportunities for individuals to interact with and get to know members of the outgroup, which can lead to a more nuanced and personalized understanding of the outgroup. Second, intergroup contact can promote empathy and perspective-taking, as individuals have the chance to understand the experiences and viewpoints of those from different social groups. Finally, positive intergroup contact can increase the perceived similarities between group members, fostering a sense of common humanity and reducing the perceived threat or distance between groups.
• Describe the key conditions that can make intergroup contact effective in reducing prejudice.
  • According to the contact hypothesis, several key conditions can make intergroup contact more effective in reducing prejudice. These include: 1) Equal status between group members during the contact situation, 2) The presence of common goals that the groups work towards cooperatively, 3) Intergroup cooperation and interdependence in achieving these goals, and 4) Support and approval from relevant authorities or institutions. When these conditions are met, intergroup contact is more likely to lead to a reduction in prejudice, as it challenges existing stereotypes, promotes empathy and perspective-taking, and fosters a sense of shared identity and common humanity between group members.
• Evaluate the potential limitations and challenges of using intergroup contact as a strategy to address prejudice and discrimination in society.
  • While intergroup contact can be an effective strategy for reducing prejudice and improving intergroup relations, it is not without its limitations and challenges. First, the contact must occur under the right conditions, as outlined in the contact hypothesis, which may not always be feasible in real-world settings. Second, the positive effects of intergroup contact may be limited to the specific context in which the contact occurs and may not generalize to broader societal attitudes. Additionally, intergroup contact may be more effective for some types of prejudice than others, and it may not address deeper-seated structural and systemic forms of discrimination. Finally, intergroup contact alone may not be sufficient to address entrenched societal biases and power imbalances, and should be complemented by other interventions, such as education, policy changes, and the dismantling of discriminatory institutions and practices.

Related terms

Prejudice:

Prejudice is a preconceived negative attitude or judgment towards a group or its individual members, often based on limited information or stereotypes.

Discrimination:

Discrimination is the unjust or prejudicial treatment of individuals or groups based on their membership in a particular social group.

Intergroup Anxiety: Intergroup anxiety refers to the feelings of discomfort, uncertainty, and apprehension that individuals may experience when interacting with members of a different social group.