CONTACT HYPOTHESIS AND PREJUDICE
HYPOTHESIS
- Prejudice hypothesis: More prejudice leads to less contact
- Contact hypothesis: Contact leads to reduction in prejudice
FINDINGS/CONCLUSIONS
Hypotheses
1. Expect intergroup contact to show a longitudinal negative effect on prejudice
2. Prejudice will show a negative longitudinal effect on contact (expect contact hypothesis to be
stronger than prejudice effect)
3. Contact effects will be stronger for majority members than minority members
4. Effects of contact will be stronger with outgroup members perceived as highly typical
5. Effects of friendship contact on prejudice is mediated by intergroup anxiety
Contact reduces prejudice (1) AND prejudice also reduces contact (2)
Less strong effects for minority members for the contact effects (support hypothesis 3)
- Prejudice effects were either equal or stronger than contact effects
Prejudice effect is not affected by group status (whether you are minority or majority member). So
prejudice reduces contact for both groups if you are prejudiced you are less likely to approach an
outgroup member.
Effects of contact will be stronger with outgroup members perceived as highly typical, since you can
place them in the same group as others.
Contact effect is mediated by intergroup anxiety but there are differences:
- Minority member who has an outgroup friend will decrease anxiety but will not make you
feel less prejudiced.
- Majority member who has an outgroup friend will decrease anxiety which will decrease
prejudice (and allow for more contact).
TAKEAWAY
It is good to have contact with someone from an outgroup, and even better if you perceive them to
be typical of their group, cause then prejudice will be reduced against them and you are more likely
to increase contact.
There are differences in this experience for minority and majority members: minority members
experience less effects of the mediation by intergroup anxiety and the contact effects are less strong.
THEME 6: PART 1
, ACCULTURATION STRATEGIES
- Assimiliation = when there is little interest in cultural maintenance combined with a
preference for interacting with the larger society.
- Marginalisation = neither cultural maintenance nor interaction with others is sought
- Seperation = when cultural maintenance is sought while avoiding involvement with others.
- Integration = both cultural maintenance and involvement with the larger society are sought.
Being involved in both cultures (integration) served to promote better psychological and
sociocultural adaptation, while being involved in neither culture or being confused about one’s
situation (marginalisation) undermined both forms of adaptation.
There is a positive role for integration as well as relatively beneficial consequences of a strong
orientation toward one’s own ethnocultural group when compared to a preference for an
orientation toward the national society.
When there is little perception of discrimination, young immigrants are most likely to befound
in the integration profile, and to a lesser extent in the assimilation profile; however, when
there is more perceived discrimination, they are likely to be in the marginalisation profile, or
to a lesser extent in the seperation profile.
COMPONENTS OF ETHNIC IDENTITY
1. Self categorization and labelling: ingroup vs outgroup perspective. Categorising people can
influence ingroup or outgroup feeling. Example: one person using “chinese” or “chinese
american” or “asian” in different contexts.
2. Commitment and sense of belonging: how strong you are attached to your group.
(Foreclosed: lacking understanding of implications of commitment of identity. Having a less
active identity.) More emotional than number 1.
3. Exploration: the way you form your identity. Attending cultural events, finding info etc.
4. Ethnic behaviours: the practical stuff. Acting on the ethnic identity (culture). Eating the food,
learning/speaking the language. Not necessary to have the ethnic identity.
5. Evaluation and ingroup attitudes. How you feel about your group.
6. Values and beliefs: being able to relate to the value and beliefs of the larger group. The
ethnicity can be related to culture.
7. Importance and salience: the importance a person attributes to their ethnic identity. A
variation in importance can happen over time. Difference in this with regards to being a
minority etc.
HYPOTHESIS
- Prejudice hypothesis: More prejudice leads to less contact
- Contact hypothesis: Contact leads to reduction in prejudice
FINDINGS/CONCLUSIONS
Hypotheses
1. Expect intergroup contact to show a longitudinal negative effect on prejudice
2. Prejudice will show a negative longitudinal effect on contact (expect contact hypothesis to be
stronger than prejudice effect)
3. Contact effects will be stronger for majority members than minority members
4. Effects of contact will be stronger with outgroup members perceived as highly typical
5. Effects of friendship contact on prejudice is mediated by intergroup anxiety
Contact reduces prejudice (1) AND prejudice also reduces contact (2)
Less strong effects for minority members for the contact effects (support hypothesis 3)
- Prejudice effects were either equal or stronger than contact effects
Prejudice effect is not affected by group status (whether you are minority or majority member). So
prejudice reduces contact for both groups if you are prejudiced you are less likely to approach an
outgroup member.
Effects of contact will be stronger with outgroup members perceived as highly typical, since you can
place them in the same group as others.
Contact effect is mediated by intergroup anxiety but there are differences:
- Minority member who has an outgroup friend will decrease anxiety but will not make you
feel less prejudiced.
- Majority member who has an outgroup friend will decrease anxiety which will decrease
prejudice (and allow for more contact).
TAKEAWAY
It is good to have contact with someone from an outgroup, and even better if you perceive them to
be typical of their group, cause then prejudice will be reduced against them and you are more likely
to increase contact.
There are differences in this experience for minority and majority members: minority members
experience less effects of the mediation by intergroup anxiety and the contact effects are less strong.
THEME 6: PART 1
, ACCULTURATION STRATEGIES
- Assimiliation = when there is little interest in cultural maintenance combined with a
preference for interacting with the larger society.
- Marginalisation = neither cultural maintenance nor interaction with others is sought
- Seperation = when cultural maintenance is sought while avoiding involvement with others.
- Integration = both cultural maintenance and involvement with the larger society are sought.
Being involved in both cultures (integration) served to promote better psychological and
sociocultural adaptation, while being involved in neither culture or being confused about one’s
situation (marginalisation) undermined both forms of adaptation.
There is a positive role for integration as well as relatively beneficial consequences of a strong
orientation toward one’s own ethnocultural group when compared to a preference for an
orientation toward the national society.
When there is little perception of discrimination, young immigrants are most likely to befound
in the integration profile, and to a lesser extent in the assimilation profile; however, when
there is more perceived discrimination, they are likely to be in the marginalisation profile, or
to a lesser extent in the seperation profile.
COMPONENTS OF ETHNIC IDENTITY
1. Self categorization and labelling: ingroup vs outgroup perspective. Categorising people can
influence ingroup or outgroup feeling. Example: one person using “chinese” or “chinese
american” or “asian” in different contexts.
2. Commitment and sense of belonging: how strong you are attached to your group.
(Foreclosed: lacking understanding of implications of commitment of identity. Having a less
active identity.) More emotional than number 1.
3. Exploration: the way you form your identity. Attending cultural events, finding info etc.
4. Ethnic behaviours: the practical stuff. Acting on the ethnic identity (culture). Eating the food,
learning/speaking the language. Not necessary to have the ethnic identity.
5. Evaluation and ingroup attitudes. How you feel about your group.
6. Values and beliefs: being able to relate to the value and beliefs of the larger group. The
ethnicity can be related to culture.
7. Importance and salience: the importance a person attributes to their ethnic identity. A
variation in importance can happen over time. Difference in this with regards to being a
minority etc.
