The greatest magic of Harry Potter: Reducing prejudice

Abstract

Recent research shows that extended contact via story reading is a powerful strategy to improve out-group attitudes. We conducted three studies to test whether extended contact through reading the popular best-selling books of Harry Potter improves attitudes toward stigmatized groups (immigrants, homosexuals, refugees). Results from one experimental intervention with elementary school children and from two cross-sectional studies with high school and university students (in Italy and United Kingdom) supported our main hypothesis. Identification with the main character (i.e., Harry Potter) and disidentification from the negative character (i.e., Voldemort) moderated the effect. Perspective taking emerged as the process allowing attitude improvement. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed in the context of extended intergroup contact and social cognitive theory.

Full text

The greatest magic of Harry Potter: Reducing prejudice
Loris Vezzali1, Sofia Stathi2, Dino Giovannini1, Dora Capozza3, Elena Trifiletti4
1University of Modena and Reggio Emilia
2University of Greenwich
3University of Padova
4University of Verona
Correspondence concerning this article should
be addressed to Loris Vezzali, Dipartimento di
Educazione e Scienze Umane, viale Allegri 9,
42121 Reggio Emilia, Italy.
E-mail: loris.vezzali@unimore.it
doi: 10.1111/jasp.12279
Abstract
Recent research shows that extended contact via story reading is a powerful strat-
egy to improve out-group attitudes. We conducted three studies to test whether
extended contact through reading the popular best-selling books of Harry Potter
improves attitudes toward stigmatized groups (immigrants, homosexuals, refu-
gees). Results from one experimental intervention with elementary school children
and from two cross-sectional studies with high school and university students (in
Italy and United Kingdom) supported our main hypothesis. Identification with
the main character (i.e., Harry Potter) and disidentification from the negative
character (i.e., Voldemort) moderated the effect. Perspective taking emerged as the
process allowing attitude improvement. Theoretical and practical implications of
the findings are discussed in the context of extended intergroup contact and social
cognitive theory.
Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our
aims are identical and our hearts are open.
Albus Dumbledore
There is no doubt that the novels of Harry Potter, by the
author J. K. Rowling, have been among the greatest successes
in the history of literature and cinema industry. From June
1997, when the first book was published, until June 2011,
the series of books, translated in 67 languages, had sold
about 450 million copies worldwide and is the best-selling
book series of all times (Wikipedia, 2014). Overall, the
books have received numerous awards and their literary
value has been acknowledged (e.g., Alton, 2009; Knapp,
2003). The stories of Harry Potter have inspired a number
of products, ranging from video games and toys to clothing
and theme parks.
The novels of Harry Potter represent several literary
genres, including not only fantasy, which is the most
evident, but also romance, adventure, thriller, mystery,
gothic, pulp fiction, detective fiction, all fused by Rowling in
a single mosaic (Alton, 2009). The complexity and richness
of the topics addressed in the novels (Mulholland, 2006)
make them appealing to both children and adults (Heilman,
2009; Patrick & Patrick, 2006). As such, it not surprising
that they have stimulated debates and controversies on
moral, religious, and educational topics among scholars of
various disciplines (Griesinger, 2002; Senland & Vozzola,
2007).
It has been suggested that the novels have the potential to
achieve a positive social impact. Knapp (2003) argues that the
books can be of great appeal to children, who can thus be
highly motivated to read them. This process can lead to edu-
cational benefits, such as improved reading ability, reading
engagement, and literacy development. The appeal of a book
is important, as pupils often fail to identify engaging books
(Worthy, Moorman, & Turner, 1999). Fields (2007) notes that
the novels address important social, cultural, and psychologi-
cal issues, such as culture, society, social inequalities, love, the
transition to maturity, prejudice (see also Heilman, 2009;
Knapp, 2003; Whitney, Vozzola, & Hofmann, 2005). Beers
and Apple (2006; see also Fields, 2007) point out that the
novels highlight a social structure where intergroup conflict is
a highly salient topic. Tangentially, the topics of the books
delve into social issues such as opposing identities, prejudice,
and conflict.
Given theimpressive success of Harry Potter worldwide and
the importance of the intergroup topics addressed in the
novels, we aimed to test whether they have the potential to
effectively achieve social goals such as the amelioration of
intergroup relations. Specifically, the present research was
designed to test whether the novels of Harry Potter can be used
as a tool for improving attitudes toward stigmatized groups.
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The novels of Harry Potter
The series consists of seven books that follow the life of Harry
Potter. At the age of 11, Harry, who is an orphan child and
lives with his uncle, aunt, and cousin, discovers that he is a
wizard and that he will attend a school where young wizards
and witches learn how to perform magic. Together with his
two best friends, Harry will fight against his greatest enemy,
Lord Voldemort, the most evil wizard of all times. Voldemort
tried to kill Harry when he was 1 year old, before disappearing
for many years. Harry will soon discover from Albus
Dumbledore, the Headmaster of his school, that Voldemort
will return. Meanwhile, Harry attends the school and grows
into a talented and brave man. He will fight against
Voldemort’s return several times along the series, until he will
defeat him in the final battle.
The novels are complex and speak of a world that is parallel
to the “real” world of people without magic (the “muggles”).
Apart from the character of Harry, which entails several
important qualities such as bravery and positive personal and
social values that make him stand against social inequalities
and injustices (Delzescaux, 2009), another key character is
Voldemort, who is the main negative character and believes
that power should be held only by “pure-blood” wizards and
witches, that is, only by wizards and witches born from
parents with magical powers (the association between
Voldemort’s beliefs and Nazism are rather obvious).
The world of Harry Potter is characterized by strict social
hierarchies and resulting prejudices, with obvious parallels
with our society. First of all, people without magic powers are
profoundly discriminated in the “wizarding world.”Another
stigmatized category is that of “half-blood” or“mud-blood,”
wizards and witches born from families where only one
parent has magical abilities. Other examples of stigmatized
categories are the elves (servants and slaves of wizards), the
half-giants (born from one giant parent and an “ordinary”
wizard or witch), the goblins (who guard the bank of
wizards). These latter categories represent creatures that are
not “fully”human; They are however represented by Rowling
as humanized, and can thus be easily perceived as low-status
human categories. Harry has meaningful contact with char-
acters belonging to stigmatized groups. He tries to under-
stand them and appreciate their difficulties, some of which
stem from intergroup discrimination, and fights for a world
free of social inequalities.
Extended contact, out-group
attitudes, and Harry Potter
One of the most successful approaches to improving attitudes
between groups is intergroup contact (Allport, 1954; Hodson
& Hewstone, 2013; Pettigrew & Tropp, 2011). However,
strategies based on direct intergroup contact have some
important limitations: They cannot be applied when there is
no opportunity for contact and are often difficult and costly
to put into practice (Paluck & Green, 2009).To address these
problems, researchers have recently focused on the effective-
ness of indirect contact forms, such as extended contact
(Wright, Aron, McLaughlin-Volpe, & Ropp, 1997; for a recent
review, see Vezzali, Hewstone, Capozza, Giovannini, &
Wöelfer, 2014). According to the extended contact hypoth-
esis, simply knowing that an in-group member has one or
more out-group friends is sufficient to reduce prejudice.
There is now vast support for the effectiveness of extended
contact both with adults (Paolini, Hewstone, Cairns, & Voci,
2004; Stasiuk & Bilewicz, 2013) and children (Cameron &
Rutland, 2006; Turner, Tam, Hewstone, Kenworthy, & Cairns,
2013; see also Turner, Hewstone, Voci, Paolini, & Christ,
2007). Extended contact has been applied in educational set-
tings by means of ad hoc stories involving contact between
in-group and out-group characters (Liebkind & McAlister,
1999). Cameron and colleagues (e.g., Cameron & Rutland,
2006; Cameron, Rutland, Hossain, & Petley, 2011) conducted
a series of studies where English children between 5 and
11 years of age read short stories of friendship between
in-group and out-group characters. The stories were found to
improve attitudes toward various stigmatized groups,such as
refugees and disabled people.
Despite their effectiveness, the aforementioned studies are
based on stories created by researchers and focused on spe-
cific target groups. We believe that it is important to explore
the potential effects of real, published novels in cross-group
relations. The reason being, published books are accessible to
everyone and, from a practical perspective,they can easily be
included in school curricula. Vezzali, Stathi, and Giovannini
(2012) provided direct evidence for the role of certain types
of books in improving out-group attitudes. They found that
11–13-year-old Italian children displayed improved attitudes
and behavioral intentions, and decreased stereotyping
toward immigrants as a result of reading books where charac-
ters from different cultures had positive interactions with
characters from a culture similar to that of participants.
Importantly,the effectiveness of both ad hoc created stories
and published books involving cross-group friendships may
be limited due to (a) their specific focus and context and (b)
the (perhaps limited) appeal they have to readers. Specifically,
we argue that such stories are likely to improved attitudes
only toward the target group involved in the stories them-
selves and may be perceived as not (or less) appealing to the
public, thus reducing their potential impact (Knapp, 2003).
We suggest that reading popular fantasy novels such as those
of Harry Potter may help overcome the shortcomings
reported above and result in improved attitudes toward
various stigmatized categories for the following reasons.
First, the novels are already published and do not need any
type of ad hoc preparation. Practically, this facilitates their
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application in social and educational contexts. Second,
popular books are generally appealing; In the case of the
novels of Harry Potter,for example, people report being “fas-
cinated by them” (Knapp, 2003, p. 79). Third, in fantasy
books, individuals can associate fantastic characters with
real-world group members. In the case of Harry Potter books,
Harry has meaningful contact with stigmatized characters: As
the groups to which these discriminated characters belong do
not directly represent a specific real-world category, they may
be more generalizable and therefore associated with various
different stigmatized groups in our society.
Whereas in previous studies that used stories as stimuli
extended contact was realized via a story character belonging
to the in-group who had contact with out-group characters,in
this research, extended contact is via a fantasy character (i.e.,
Harry Potter); This character, with whom readers can identify
at a personal level, has contact with stigmatized (fantasy)
groups. In other words, whereas extended contact has been
operationalized as knowing in-group members who encoun-
ter out-group members (Wright et al., 1997), we propose a
new type of extended contact, where in-group members are
replaced by a character—felt similar to the self—who is in
contact with stigmatized fantasy group members.
Finding such an effect would also represent the first evi-
dence that extended contact produces secondary transfer
effects, that is the generalization of the effects of contact with
one primary out-group to attitudes toward secondary out-
group(s) not involved in the contact situation (Lolliot et al.,
2013; Pettigrew, 2009; Schmid, Hewstone, Kupper, Zick, &
Wagner, 2012; Tausch et al., 2010; for an evidence of the sec-
ondary transfer effect with imagined contact, see Harwood,
Paolini, Joyce, Rubin, & Arroyo, 2011). Previously, Vezzali
and Giovannini (2012) found that the secondary transfer
effect also applies when the secondary out-group (disabled,
homosexuals) are dissimilar from the primary out-group
(immigrants). Our studies would considerably expand these
findings, showing that (extended) contact with fantasy char-
acters improves relations with real-world categories (which
are clearly dissimilar from fantasy groups).
Our hypothesis is in line with the parasocial contact
hypothesis (Schiappa, Gregg, & Hewes, 2005), suggesting that
cognitive and affective responses following exposure to
media characters are similar to those produced by direct
contact experiences (see Ortiz & Harwood, 2007). It is also
consistent with social cognitive theory (Bandura, 1997,
2002), according to which individuals, through the process of
abstract modeling, can learn positive out-group attitudes and
intergroup behaviors from vicarious experiences portrayed
by relevant others, also represented by media characters, and
apply them in different contexts. Specifically, the theory
accords a pivotal role to identification with characters: People
should align with the character and his/her view of the world
only when they identify with him/her. In the Harry Potter
context, Harry is the main positive character, who fights
against social inequality and injustice. As such,we test identi-
fication with Harry Potter as the moderator of book reading.
In addition, we explore whether individuals also modify
their out-group attitudes when distancing themselves from
the negative character. In other words, we examine the mod-
erating role of identification with Voldemort, who endorses
universally negative values linked with pervasive social dis-
crimination (for a discussion on the different values endorsed
by Harry Potter and Voldemort, see Franklin, 2006). In line
with the theories reported above, we expect that reading the
novels of Harry Potter will have beneficial effects on out-
group attitudes only among those who identify more with
Harry Potter and/or who identify less with Voldemort.
We are also interested in the processes underlying the
hypothesized effect. The literature on extended contact has
identified numerous mediators, such as reduced anxiety
(Eller, Abrams, & Zimmermann, 2011), positive in-group
and out-group norms (Gomez, Tropp, & Fernandez, 2011),
inclusion of other in the self (Turner, Hewstone, Voci, &
Vonofakou, 2008). In the present study, we test perspective
taking as a potential novel mediator of extended contact. Per-
spective taking, or the ability to assume the perspective
adopted by another person (Stephan & Finlay, 1999), together
with its emotional counterpart, that is, empathy, has been
shown to have beneficial effects on out-group attitudes and
intergroup behaviors (e.g., Batson, 2010; Galinsky, Maddux,
Gilin, & White, 2008; Vescio, Sechrist, & Paolucci, 2003).
Research has shown that empathy and perspective taking can
be induced by listening to or reading stories of individuals
belonging to stigmatized groups, such as ethnic groups,
homeless, and older people (e.g., Batson et al., 1997; Galinsky
& Ku, 2004; Galinsky, Ku, & Wang, 2005). Moreover,research
has demonstrated that intergroup empathy and perspective
taking can stem from experiences of intergroup contact and
are, after intergroup anxiety (Pettigrew & Tropp, 2008), the
most potent mediators of contact effects (e.g., Capozza,
Vezzali, Trifiletti, Falvo, & Favara, 2010; Swart, Hewstone,
Christ, & Voci, 2011; Vezzali, Giovannini, & Capozza, 2010).
However, the potential role of perspective taking as a
mediator of extended contact effects has not yet been tested
(but see Andrighetto, Mari, Volpato, & Behluli, 2012, who
demonstrated that perspective taking mediates the effects of
an alternative type of extended contact, via family members,
on competitive victimhood). There are several examples in
the novels where Harry, during contact with characters
belonging to stigmatized groups that suffer the consequences
of prejudices and discrimination, tries to understand them
and to improve their situation. According to social cognitive
theory (Bandura, 2002), individuals exposed to vicarious
experiences learn cognitive and affective responses displayed
by characters through the process of symbolic interaction
(Bandura, 1999) and use them in various social situations. In
Vezzali et al. 3
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our case, we expect that participants will associate learned
responses concerning taking the perspective of fantastic crea-
tures with corresponding perspective taking toward stigma-
tized real out-group categories, which in turn should improve
out-group attitudes.
Overview of our research
The aim of the present research is to examine whether
reading the novels of Harry Potter improves attitudes toward
stigmatized groups. To this end, we conducted three studies,
based on the predictions derived by extended contact
(Wright et al., 1997) and social cognitive theory (Bandura,
2002) and consistent with the theoretical premises of
parasocial contact hypothesis (Schiappa et al., 2005). We
considered participants across an extended life span, ranging
from childhood to young adulthood. The first study is an
experimental intervention realized among Italian elemen-
tary school children. The second and third studies are cross-
sectional, conducted with high school students in Italy and
university undergraduates in the United Kingdom, respec-
tively. In order to provide a stringent test for our hypotheses,
we focused on three deeply stigmatized out-groups: immi-
grants (Study 1), homosexuals (Study 2), refugees (Study 3).
Indeed, there is evidence that prejudice toward homosexuals
and ethnic minorities, such as immigrants and refugees,
is strongly endorsed by Europeans (Pereira, Vala, &
Costa-Lopez, 2010; Schmid et al., 2012; West & Hewstone,
2012; Zick, Pettigrew, & Wagner, 2008). The realistic and
symbolic threat posed by ethnic groups makes them an espe-
cially salient target for discriminatory behaviors (Cameron,
Rutland, Brown, & Douch, 2006; McLaren, 2003; Pehrson,
Brown, & Zagefka, 2009; Wagner et al., 2008). Notably,
young children also harbor prejudicial attitudes toward
immigrants (Cameron, Rutland, & Brown, 2007; Vezzali,
Giovannini, & Capozza, 2012), and it is therefore essential to
tackle them from a young age (Cristol & Gimbert, 2008).
With respect to attitudes toward homosexuals, prejudices
toward gays and lesbians are generally evident in Europe
(Kite & Whitley, 1996; Zitek & Hebl, 2007) and prejudice
toward homosexuals is especially high in Italy
(Eurobarometer, 2012); It is therefore important to examine
strategies to improve attitudes toward this stigmatized
group.
In all three studies, we tested the moderating role of identi-
fication with the main positive and negative characters. In
particular, we expect that reading the novels of Harry Potter
will have positive effects only among those who identify more
with Harry Potter and/or who identify less with Voldemort.
In the third study, we also examine perspective taking as a
mediator of book reading.
In all studies, in order to provide a more severe test for our
hypotheses, we statistically controlled for the number of
Harry Potter films watched. This variable might correlate
positively with number of Harry Potter books read, and
might concur to explain part of the variance of the outcome
variables.
Study 1
We conducted an experimental intervention among Italian
elementary school children, based on reading passages from
the books of Harry Potter and discussing them with a
research assistant. Based on the condition, in each of six ses-
sions, children read and then discussed with the researcher
passages of the novels of Harry Potter related (experimental
condition) or unrelated (control condition) to the theme of
prejudice, before being administered (1 week after the last
session) a questionnaire with the dependent variables. Prior
attitudes toward immigrants were controlled for. Further-
more, we statistically controlled for the number of Harry
Potter books read or films watched by each child. Gender was
included as a further control variable.
Method
Participants and procedure
Participants were 34 Italian fifth-grade elementary school
children (13 males, 21 females) from a school located in
Northern Italy. We obtained teachers’ and parents’ consent
prior to conducting the study.
In a first phase, children were administered a questionnaire
assessing their attitudes toward immigrants. Then, they were
divided into small groups of five to six children and met with
the researcher once a week for six consecutive weeks. In each
session, the researcher read the selected passages from the
novels of Harry Potter (following the book sequence). As
mentioned above, there were two conditions. In the experi-
mental condition, the selected passages related to issues of
prejudice and their consequences. For instance, children read
a passage from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets where
Draco Malfoy (a negative character, schoolmate of Harry
Potter) insults Hermione,one of the two best friends of Harry
(together with Ron), by calling her “filthy little Mudblood”
(Rowling, 1998, p. 86). In the same session, they read about
Hermione’s reaction, who felt humiliated despite being the
most talented young witch in the school, and about the angry
reactions of her friends, including Harry. In the control con-
dition, passages were unrelated to prejudice. In one session,
for instance, participants read a passage where Harry buys his
first magic wand.
The passages, selected by the researchers, were evaluated by
independent judges (university students) to be highly related
(experimental condition) or totally unrelated (control condi-
tion) to the issue of prejudice. Moreover, no differences were
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found between the passages in the control and experimental
conditions regarding how nice and interesting they are.
Prior to any reading, the researcher briefly summarized the
plot that preceded the passage, so as to facilitate children’s
understanding and link the passage with the whole story.
After reading the relevant passage, children took part in a
group discussion led by the researcher, focusing on what they
had just read. In the experimental condition, the discussion
thus focused on the prejudicial acts committed against stig-
matized groups, on their consequences such as the sufferings
produced in stigmatized group members, on the role of
Harry Potter in addressing these injustices. In the control
condition, the discussion focused on the specific passage read
(for instance, in one session where the story concerned Harry
playing Quidditch, the most important wizarding sport, par-
ticipants discussed their preferred sport activities, etc.). One
week after the last session, children were administered a ques-
tionnaire with the dependent variables.
Measures
Unless otherwise indicated, responses to all items were given
on a 5-step scale, anchored by 1 (notatall)and5(very much).
Manipulation check
To ensure that the passages in the experimental and control
conditions were of similar appeal to children, four items
assessed the extent to which the passages were nice, interest-
ing, funny, difficult to understand.
Attitudes toward immigrants (administered before
and after the intervention)
We adapted two items from the scale by Liebkind and
McAlister (1999) (“It would be great if there were more pupils
from other countries in my school”;“It would be great if there
were more pupils from other countries in my neighbor-
hood”). Correlation between the two items after the interven-
tion was high (r=.84, p<.001). Although the correlation
between the two items before the intervention was low
(r=.16), test-retest reliability was significant (r=.43,
p<.05). Thus, we created a composite score for the two items
both before and after the intervention: Higher scores indicate
more positive attitudes toward immigrants.1
Identification with Harry Potter and with
Voldemort
To assess identification with Harry Potter, two items were
used, adapted by Eyal and Rubin’s (2003) scale of identifica-
tion with media characters (“I’d like to be like Harry”;“I wish
I could be more similar to Harry”). The two items were
averaged (r=.41, p<.05), with higher scores reflecting
stronger identification with Harry Potter.Identification with
Voldemort was assessed with the same two items (r=.84,
p<.001).
Harry Potter books read and films watched
Children were presented with a list of the Harry Potter pub-
lished books (seven books) and films (six films; At the time of
data collection, between December 2009 and January 2010,
only six out of eight films were released), and were asked to
indicate the books they had read and the films they had
watched.
Results
Read passages were rated as nice (M=4.41, standard devia-
tion [SD]=.82), interesting (M=4.32, SD =.81), funny
(M=3.53, SD =1.26), not difficult to understand (M=1.27,
SD =.45). Importantly, mean scores did not differ between
experimental and control conditions, ts<1.52, ps>.13.
Thus, subsequent differences between conditions cannot be
attributed to a greater liking of read passages in one condition
compared with the other. Preliminary analyses, moreover,
revealed that attitudes toward immigrants assessed prior to
the intervention, number of Harry Potter books read and
films watched, identification with Harry Potter and
Voldemort, did not differ between experimental and control
conditions, ts<1.57, ps>.12. Descriptives for the two condi-
tions are presented in Table 1. Interestingly, identification
with Harry Potter was not correlated with identification with
1We excluded from the scale a third, reverse-coded item (“Do you use words
that might hurt immigrants?”), in order to increase the reliability of the scale.
This is consistent with previous studies, which show that after the 7th year of
age children differentiate between in-group and out-group more in terms of
positive than negative items (e.g.,Bennett et al., 2004), possibly because of the
endorsement of social norms against discrimination (see Rutland, Cameron,
Milne, & McGeorge, 2005).
Table 1 Means and Standard Deviations for Participants in the Experi-
mental and Control Conditions (Study 1)
Measure
Condition
Experimental (n=17) Control (n=17)
MSDMSD
Out-group attitudes
(administered before the
intervention)
2.39 .80 1.94 .88
Out-group attitudes 2.20 .98 1.76 .85
Identification with Harry
Potter
3.38 .89 3.26 1.09
Identification with Voldemort 1.85 1.58 1.88 1.26
Note. The response scale for all measures ranged from 1 to 5.
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Voldemort, r=−.03, p=.87, suggesting that identifying with
the former is not the opposite from identifying with the latter.
To test our hypotheses, two hierarchical regressions were
conducted (one for identification with Harry Potter as the
moderator,the other for identification with Voldemort as the
moderator). In the first step, we entered condition (coded 1
for the experimental and 0 for the control condition) and the
hypothesized moderator (centered). As control variables, we
included prior attitudes toward immigrants, gender, Harry
Potter books read and films watched. In the second step, we
added the two-way interaction between experimental condi-
tion and the moderator. The outcome variable was attitudes
toward immigrants as reported after the intervention.
First, we tested moderation by identification with Harry
Potter. Results revealed a main effect of gender, β=.36,
p<.05, indicating that females had more positive attitudes
toward immigrants than males; And a main effect of initial
attitudes, β=.37, p<.05. As expected, the two-way interac-
tion between experimental condition and identification with
Harry Potter was significant, β=.51, p<.05. Simple slope
analyses showed that reading the passages from Harry Potter
books related to improved attitudes toward immigrants
among children who identified more with Harry Potter (+1
SD), b=1.04, t=2.25, p<.05. The effect of the experimental
condition was nonsignificant for participants who identified
less with Harry Potter (−1SD), b=−.46, t=1.06, ns.The
regression model including the interaction term explained
47% of the total variance. Thus, our prediction was fully sup-
ported: Reading passages of Harry Potter related to prejudice,
relative to the control condition, improved out-group atti-
tudes, over and above the effects of control variables.2
When testing identification with Voldemort as the mod-
erator, only one main effect emerged: Identification with
Voldemort was associated with more negative out-group atti-
tudes, β=−.46, p<.05. None of the other effects was signifi-
cant, ps>.22.
Discussion
The present study provides initial evidence regarding the
effectiveness of reading the stories of Harry Potter on the
improvement of out-group attitudes for participants who
identify highly with Harry Potter. Results revealed that a
structured intervention based on reading passages related to
prejudice and conducted among Italian elementary school
children improved attitudes toward immigrants (compared
with a control condition where children read passages unre-
lated to prejudice) for children who identified more with the
main positive character. Importantly, these effects were
obtained by controlling for relevant variables. Notably, the
moderating role of identification with the positive character
is in line with social cognitive theory (Bandura, 1997) and
extended contact hypothesis (Wright et al., 1997).
Identification with the negative character did not act as a
moderator. Possibly, perceived similarity with the main posi-
tive character (who has an age similar to that of participants)
and dissimilarity from the negative character (who is
depicted as an adult) may have played a role (Bandura, Ross,
& Ross, 1961). This possibility will be discussed more in detail
in the General Discussion. Moreover, stories presented in the
experimental condition were based on Harry’s contact with
stigmatized group members, rather than on Voldemort’s
actions, so it is not surprising that participants’ attitudes
improved only when they identified with Harry Potter.
Study 2
The aim of the second study was to replicate the effects found
in Study 1 with a different age group (high school students)
and a different target out-group. In order to test the
generalizability of the effect to different stigmatized catego-
ries, this study focused on attitudes toward homosexuals,
another highly stigmatized group (see Hodson, Harry, &
Mitchell, 2009; Vezzali & Giovannini, 2012).
As control variables, we considered age and gender,
number of books read per year (excluding those of Harry
Potter) and number of hours spent each day watching televi-
sion. Indeed, we aimed to examine whether the improvement
of out-group attitudes is a consequence of the mere act of
reading or if it is specifically related to reading Harry Potter.
Accordingly, exposure to television (rather than specifically
watching Harry Potter films) may affect out-group attitudes.
Prior quantity and quality of contact with the out-group were
controlled for, given the major role of these variables (espe-
cially quality of contact) in influencing out-group attitudes
(Hodson & Hewstone, 2013; Pettigrew & Tropp, 2011). We
also statistically controlled for the number of Harry Potter
films watched (and for the interaction of this variable with
character identification). Showing that reading Harry Potter
improves attitudes over and above prior contact with homo-
sexuals and the other control variables would provide critical
support to our hypotheses.
Method
Participants and procedure
Participants were 117 students (46 males, 71 females) attend-
ing a high school located in Northern Italy. Age of partici-
pants ranged from 16 to 20 years (M=17.39, SD =.94).
Participants were administered two questionnaires during
classes (in counterbalanced order) for two ostensibly
unrelated studies. One questionnaire was presented as an
2Because of the relatively low reliability for the attitude measure collected
prior to the intervention, we ran additional analyses by considering each item
separately, or by not controlling for prior out-group attitudes. In all cases, the
results did not change.
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investigation concerning the liking of the series of Harry
Potter; It contained only measures related with Harry Potter
and with book reading and watching television in general.
The other was introduced as a research on social attitudes,
and it included items concerning relations with homosexuals.
Measures
Questionnaire 1
Harry Potter books read and films watched
The two measures were identical to those used in Study 1. In
this case, however, the response scale for Harry Potter
included seven films, as data were collected when the seventh
film had already been released.
Identification with Harry Potter and Voldemort
We adapted three 5-step items (1 =notatall;5=very much)
for each of the two characters from the scale of identification
with media characters (Eyal & Rubin, 2003), similar to those
used in Study 1 (“I wish I could be more similar to Harry/
Voldemort”; “Harry/Voldemort represents the type of person
I’d like to be”; “I often think of how it would be to be like
Harry/Voldemort”). We created a composite score of identifi-
cation with Harry Potter (alpha =.78) and Voldemort
(alpha =.86), with higher scores reflecting stronger identifi-
cation with each of the two characters. As the distribution of
these measures was highly skewed, they were subjected to a
root square transformation (see Cehajic, Brown, & Castano,
2008; Vorauer & Sasaki, 2012).
Books read per year and hours spent each day
on television
The following items were used:“On average, how many books
(excluding those of Harry Potter) do you read every year?”;
“On average, how many hours do you spend every day watch-
ing television?” For both items, participants responded on a
5-step scale, ranging from 1 (zero)to5(at least seven); The
other degrees were 2 (one or two), 3 (three or four), 4
(five or six).
Questionnaire 2
Attitudes toward homosexuals
An evaluation thermometer was used, in which participants
rated homosexuals on a scale ranging from 0 (extremely unfa-
vorable) to 100 (extremely favorable).
Prior contact with homosexuals
We assessed both quantity and quality of contact with
homosexuals. For quantity of contact, we asked participants
how often they have contact with homosexuals, by using a
5-step scale (1 =never;5=very often). To assess quality of
contact, participants indicated on a 5-step scale (1 =not at
all;5=very much) how pleasant their encounters with
homosexuals are.
Results
Means, SDs, and correlations among measures are presented
in Table 2. We note that, replicating Study 1, identification
Table 2 Means, Standard Deviations, and Correlations among Variables (Study 2)
1234567891011
1. Number of Harry Potter books
read
—
2. Number of Harry Potter films
watched
.36*** —
3. Identification with Harry Potter .24** .34*** —
4. Identification with Voldemort −.00 .11 .02 —
5. Out-group attitudes .05 .14 .10 −.04 —
6. Quantity of contact −.11 −.02 .02 −.08 .32*** —
7. Quality of contact −.08 .12 .07 −.02 .63*** .53*** —
8. Number of books read per year
(excluding Harry Potter books)
.22* .10 .12 −.16†.32*** .12 .26** —
9. Number of hours spent each
day on television
−.08 .04 .08 .09 .05 .02 .03 −.14 —
10. Gender (1 =male; 2 =female) −.16†−.10 −.00 −.24** .42*** .24** .37*** .32*** −.11 —
11. Age (in years) −.04 −.11 −.13 −.04 .18†.33*** .28** .06 .16†.15 —
M1.80 4.86 1.62 1.40 57.74 1.53 2.33 2.45 2.41 / 17.39
SD 2.57 2.45 .69 .83 32.02 .88 1.22 1.14 .76 / .94
Note. The response scale for all measures ranged from 1 to 5, with the exception of number of Harry Potter books read and films watched (scale 0–7), out-group
attitudes (scale 0–100). Identification with Harry Potter and identification with Voldemort were square-root transformed to approximate normality; Means and
standard deviations refer instead to nontransformed data. †p<.10. *p<.05. **p≤.01. ***p≤.001.
[Correction added on 20 January 2015, after first online publication: the values −.12, .06 and −.04 in Quantity of contact were changed to −.11, .02 and −.08,
respectively.]
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with Voldemort and with Harry Potter were not correlated.
To test our hypotheses, two hierarchical regression analyses
were conducted. In the first, we tested the moderating role of
identification with Harry Potter; In the second, identification
with Harry Potter was replaced by the other hypothesized
moderator (i.e., identification with Voldemort). In both
regressions, in the first step, we entered number of Harry
Potter books read and films watched (centered), the modera-
tor variable (centered), number of books read per year, hours
spent each day on television, age, gender, quantity and quality
of contact with homosexuals. In the second step,the two-way
interactions of Harry Potter readings and films watched with
the moderator were added. The dependent variable was atti-
tudes toward homosexuals.
When testing identification with Harry Potter as the mod-
erator, a main effect of gender emerged, indicating that
females had more favorable attitudes toward homosexuals
than males, β=.22, p<.01. Moreover, in line with the litera-
ture on intergroup contact, we found a main positive effect of
quality of contact, β=.54, p<.001. In line with predictions,
the expected two-way interaction between Harry Potter
books read and identification with Harry Potter was signifi-
cant, β=.16, p<.05. Simple slope analysis revealed that
reading the books of Harry Potter was associated with more
positive out-group attitudes among participants who identi-
fied more with Harry Potter,b=2.36, t=2.01, p<.05, but not
among those who identified less, b=−1.08, t<1. The model
including the interaction between number of Harry Potter
books read and identification with Harry Potter accounted
for 49% of the total variance [Correction added on 20
January 2015, after first online publication: β=.50 was
changed to β=.54, b=2.48 was changed to b=2.36, t=2.13
was changed to t=2.01, b=−1.02 was changed to b=−1.08,
and 50% was changed to 49%.].
In the second regression model, testing identification with
Voldemort as the moderator, once again, results revealed a
main effect for gender, β=.23, p<.01, and for quality of
contact, β=.53, p<.001. None of the other effects was sig-
nificant, ps>.21 [Correction added on 20 January 2015, after
first online publication: β=.22 was changed to β=.23,
β=.50 was changed to β=.53, and ps >.17 was changed to
ps >.21.].
Discussion
This study provides support to the hypothesis that reading
the novels of Harry Potter is associated with improved atti-
tudes toward a stigmatized group such as homosexuals
among a sample of high school students. In particular, in line
with extended contact principles (Wright et al., 1997) and
social cognitive theory (Bandura, 2002), book reading
improved attitudes toward homosexuals only among those
more identified with the positive character. The fact that the
effects were obtained by considering several relevant control
variables adds confidence in these results.
Again, identification with Voldemort did not moderate the
effects of book reading for this age group (mostly teenagers).
This result may depend on the perception of the adult
Voldemort as a less relevant model than the child/teenager
Harry (Bandura et al., 1961; see General Discussion).
Study 3
In order to increase the external validity and generalizability
of our results, we conducted an online cross-sectional study
with a sample of undergraduate university students in the
United Kingdom, which considered a further stigmatized
out-group: Refugees. In this study, we also aimed to under-
stand the underlying factors of potential effects of Harry
Potter books on out-group attitudes, so perspective taking
was tested as the mediating process. Our hypothesis is that
reading the novels of Harry Potter will enhance perspective
taking toward refugees only among those identifying more
with the positive character and/or distancing themselves
more from the negative character; Increased perspective
taking should then be positively associated with more posi-
tive attitudes toward refugees. Thus, we predict a moderated
mediation effect, where identification with Harry and/or
Voldemort is the moderator and perspective taking toward
refugees is the mediator (Muller, Judd, & Yzerbyt, 2005;
Preacher, Rucker, & Hayes, 2007).
As in Study 2, we statistically controlled for age, gender,
number of books read per year (excluding those of Harry
Potter), number of hours spent each day watching televi-
sion, quantity and quality of contact, number of Harry
Potter films watched (and its interaction with character
identification).
Method
Participants and procedure
Seventy-five undergraduate students at a university located in
the southeast of England took part in the study. Four partici-
pants were excluded because of an excessive number of
missing data, leaving a final sample of 71 participants (13
males, 58 females). Age ranged from 18 to 44 years
(M=20.15; SD =3.96). Participants were administered two
online questionnaires (in counterbalanced order) for two
ostensibly unrelated studies. As in the previous study, one
questionnaire concerned the series of Harry Potter and book
reading and watching television in general; The other
included items concerning relations with the out-group. Par-
ticipants volunteered to take part in this study in exchange for
research credits.
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Measures
Questionnaire 1
The measures of Harry Potter books read and films watched,
identification with Harry Potter (alpha =.84) and with
Voldemort (alpha =.85), books read per year, and hours
spent each day on television, were the same as in Study 2.The
distribution of identification with Voldemort was highly
skewed; This variable was therefore subjected to square root
transformation.
Questionnaire 2
Perspective taking toward refugees
Perspective taking was assessed with three items, adapted by
Aberson and Haag (2007) and by Vezzali and Giovannini
(2012) (“I think I understand the way refugees see the world”;
“In general I’m able to jump into refugees’ shoes”;“It’s diffi-
cult for me to see things from the point of view of refugees,”
reverse-scored). The 5-step scale ranged from 1 (not at all)to
5(very much). Ratings were averaged (alpha =.62): Higher
scores denote stronger perspective taking toward refugees.
Attitudes toward refugees
A measure of social distance was used, adapted by Esses and
Dovidio (2002), consisting of five 5-step items (1 =notatall;
5=very much) measuring participants’ willingness of dis-
closing personal information to an out-group member and
accepting him/her as a neighbor,close friend, classmate, pro-
fessor (alpha =.94). Responses were coded so that higher
scores indicate more willingness to engage in contact behav-
iors with the out-group (if provided with the opportunity)
and, thus, more positive attitudes.
Prior contact with refugees
Quantity and quality of contact with refugees were assessed
with the same items used in Study 2.
Results
Means, standard deviations and correlations among variables
are in Table 3.
To test predictions, we applied hierarchical regression.
First, we conducted two hierarchical regressions to examine
whether reading the novels of Harry Potter was associated
with perspective taking depending on the level of identifica-
tion with Harry Potter or with Voldemort (mediator variable
models). In the first step, the variables entered were number
of Harry Potter books read and films watched (centered),
identification with Harry Potter or with Voldemort (cen-
tered), number of books read per year, hours spent each day
on television, quantity and quality of contact with refugees,
age, gender. In both regressions, we statistically controlled for
identification with the other main character (Voldemort or
Harry Potter respectively) because of the correlation between
the two variables (Table 3). In the second step, the two-way
interactions of number of Harry Potter books read and films
Table 3 Means, Standard Deviations, and Correlations among Variables (Study 3)
123456789101112
1. Number of Harry Potter books
read
—
2. Number of Harry Potter films
watched
.57*** —
3. Identification with Harry Potter .21†.34** —
4. Identification with Voldemort .09 .05 .24* —
5. Perspective taking −.00 −.28* −.11 −.15 —
6. Out-group attitudes −.10 −.26* .05 −.36*** .60*** —
7. Quantity of contact .00 −.14 −.10 −.02 .52*** .46*** —
8. Quality of contact −.04 −.34** −.26* .01 .53*** .46*** .60*** —
9. Number of books read per year
(excluding Harry Potter books)
.44*** .30* .14 −.19 .08 −.00 −.12 −.13 —
10. Number of hours spent each
day on television
−.27* −.15 .07 .17 .05 .08 .06 −.03 −.22†—
11. Gender (1 =male; 2 =female) −.16 −.12 −.18 −.27* .03 .06 .04 −.05 .11 .09
12. Age (in years) −.14 −.11 .15 −.01 .02 .07 −.03 .09 .11 −.19 −.25* —
M4.44 5.52 2.20 1.34 3.23 3.69 2.65 3.75 3.39 2.34 / 20.15
SD 2.61 1.90 1.09 .83 .82 .85 1.29 .94 1.37 .94 / 3.96
Note. The response scale for all measures ranged from 1 to 5, with the exception of number of Harry Potter books readand films watched (scale 0–7). Identification
with Voldemort was square-root transformed to approximate normality; The mean and the standard deviation refer instead to nontransformed data. †p≤.08.
*p<.05. **p≤.01. ***p≤.001.
[Correction added on 20 January 2015, after first online publication: the value .00 in Quality of contact was changed to .01.].
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watched with character identification were added. The same
regression models were then conducted using out-group atti-
tudes as the dependent variable (dependent variable models).
Results of the four regression models are summarized in
Table 4. When perspective taking was the dependent variable,
the expected interaction between number of Harry Potter
books read and identification with Voldemort was significant.
Simple slope analyses indicated that the number of Harry
Potter books read was positively associated with perspective
taking toward refugees among participants less identified
with Voldemort, b=.13, t=2.10, p<.05. For those more
identified with the negative character, the relation between
Harry Potter books read and perspective taking was nonsig-
nificant, b=−.10, t=1.54, p=.13. In addition, results
revealed a marginal interaction between number of Harry
Potter films watched and identification with Voldemort,
which however did not reach conventional levels of statistical
significance.
When using out-group attitudes as the dependent variable
(Table 4), unexpectedly, the interaction between Harry Potter
films watched and identification with Voldemort was signifi-
cant. Simple slope analyses indicated that the number of
Harry Potter films watched was negatively associated with
attitudes toward refugees among participants less identified
with Voldemort, b=−.23, t=2.88, p<.01; The association
between Harry Potter films watched and out-group attitudes
was nonsignificant for those more identified with the nega-
tive character, b=.04, t<1.
We then tested our moderated mediation hypothesis
(Muller et al., 2005; Preacher et al., 2007) to examine whether
Harry Potter books read (independent variable) affected atti-
tudes toward refugees (dependent variable) via perspective
taking toward refugees (mediator) depending on the level of
character identification (moderator). Identification with
Voldemort was used as the moderator, since no moderation
effects emerged for identification with Harry Potter
(Table 4). Variables included in the model testing effects on
out-group attitudes were the same shown in Table 4, with the
addition of perspective taking. To perform this analysis, we
used the PROCESS macro for SPSS provided by Hayes (2012,
Model 8). Results revealed that, consistent with the mediation
hypothesis, perspective taking was associated with improved
out-group attitudes, β=.33, p<.01. The interaction of iden-
tification with Voldemort with number of Harry Potter books
read, β=−.04, t<1, and with number of Harry Potter films
watched, β=.22, t=1.63, p>.10, were nonsignificant. In line
with predictions, when identification with Voldemort was
lower (−1SD), the 95% bootstrap confidence interval
(ranging from .004 to .101) excluded 0, thus indicating a sig-
nificant indirect effect. In contrast, when identification with
Voldemort was high (+1SD), the 95% bootstrap confidence
interval (ranging from −.112 to .002) included 0, indicating
absence of mediation effects. The variance explained by the
Table 4 Regression Coefficients Evaluating the Effects of Harry Potter Books Read and Films Watched on Perspective Taking and Attitudes toward Refugees Depending on the Level of Character Iden-
tification (Study 3)
Moderator (character identification)
Identification with Harry Potter Identification with Voldemort
Mediator variable model
(DV =perspective taking)
Dependent variable model
(DV =attitudes)
Mediator variable model
(DV =perspective taking)
Dependent variable model
(DV =attitudes)
βSE p βSE p βSE p βSE p
Books read per year .19 .07 .12 .02 .07 .86 .19 .07 .11 −.01 .07 .94
Hours spent each day on television .11 .10 .33 .12 .09 .24 .08 .10 .44 .05 .09 .60
Quantity of contact .35 .08 .01 .27 .08 .03 .30 .08 .02 .21 .08 .07
Quality of contact .28 .12 .05 .32 .12 .02 .34 .12 .01 .36 .11 .00
Gender −.07 .24 .55 −.05 .23 .66 −.02 .23 .82 −.01 .22 .89
Age −.08 .02 .51 −.03 .02 .65 −.07 .02 .54 −.04 .02 .67
Harry Potter books read .08 .04 .57 .03 .04 .84 .04 .04 .78 −.00 .04 .97
Harry Potter films watched −.29 .06 .06 −.24 .06 .10 −.22 .06 .09 −.21 .05 .09
Character identification .10 .09 .41 .34 .09 .01 −.05 .34 .69 −.44 .33 .00
Identification with the other main character −.13 .33 .26 −.45 .32 .00 .10 .08 .37 .32 .08 .00
Harry Potter books read ×character identification −.14 .04 .32 −.08 .04 .54 −.38 .17 .02 −.16 .16 .28
Harry Potter films watched ×character identification .00 .06 .99 .01 .06 .95 .26 .22 .08 .31 .22 .03
[Correction added on 20 January 2015, after first online publication: the value .34 in Quantity of contact was changed to .35.].
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final model was 61% [Correction added on 20 January 2015,
after first online publication: p>.11 was changed to p>.10
and 48% was changed to 61%.].
Discussion
This study provides evidence that supports the effect of
reading the books of Harry Potter on relations with refugees
among university students, as well as support for the mediat-
ing role of perspective taking and for the moderating role of
identification with the negative character.In line with predic-
tions, Harry Potter book reading was positively associated
with perspective taking toward refugees only among those
less identified with Voldemort; Perspective taking, in turn,
was associated with improved attitudes toward refugees.
Again, the robustness of these effects is demonstrated by the
fact that they emerged by considering several control
variables.
The fact that, in contrast with previous studies, identifica-
tion with Harry Potter did not moderate the results may
depend on the perception of Harry as a less relevant model for
the age group included in the study. Indeed, university stu-
dents may feel less similar to a character depicted as a child
that grows into a young teenager (Bandura et al., 1961; see
also General discussion).
General discussion
Results from one experimental intervention and two cross-
sectional studies show that reading the novels of Harry Potter
improves attitudes toward stigmatized groups among those
more identified with the main positive character (Studies 1
and 2) and those less identified with the main negative char-
acter (Study 3). We also found evidence for the role of per-
spective taking as the process allowing the improvement of
out-group attitudes. These findings were obtained by consid-
ering three samples, in two European countries (Italy and
United Kingdom), covering an extended age range (from
elementary school children to high school to university stu-
dents). Moreover, we considered several control variables and
we employed different measures of attitudes toward three dif-
ferent, highly stigmatized groups: immigrants (Study 1),
homosexuals (Study 2), refugees (Study 3).
Theoretical implications
Previous research demonstrated positive effects of extended
contact on intergroup relations through story reading
(Cameron & Rutland, 2006). We have taken a step further,
testing the effect of reading already published, commercial
books, generally more complex than ad hoc created stories. In
this research, we proposed and found evidence for a new type
of extended contact, that is, via a fantasy character. Previous
research found that knowing an in-group member (or char-
acter, if extended contact was via story reading) who had
contact with out-group members improved out-group atti-
tudes (Cameron & Rutland, 2006; Wright et al., 1997). Our
findings showed that extended contact is also effective when it
is via a character who does not belong to the in-group
(wizards do not exist), but who at the same time is seen as
similar to the self. In addition to identification with this char-
acter, effects also depend on disidentification from the main
negative character. Indeed, if participants also identify with
the negative character, then the effectiveness of the interven-
tion is severely compromised (see below).
These results also represent the first evidence that second-
ary transfer effects (Pettigrew, 2009) apply to extended
contact since more positive attitudes generalized toward
groups that were not involved in the indirect contact situa-
tion. Moreover, our results demonstrate that contact with
fantasy characters can improve attitudes toward dissimilar
out-groups (see also Vezzali & Giovannini, 2012). Unfortu-
nately, we did not assess attitudes toward fantasy characters,
so we lack direct evidence on the processes underlying this
specific type of secondary transfer effect.
Our results also support the parasocial contact hypothesis
(Schiappa et al., 2005): Exposure to media characters elicited
cognitive and affective experiences similar to those produced
by real contact. They are also in line with social cognitive
theory (Bandura, 2002): Participants observed the positive
attitudes and behaviors of Harry Potter toward stigmatized
fantastic groups, and projected them onto real stigmatized
categories only when they identified with the main positive
character (Studies 1 and 2). We also found evidence for a new
moderator of extended contact, disidentification from the
main negative character (Study 3). This finding again sup-
ports and extends social cognitive theory (Bandura, 2002), by
showing that people form attitudes not only by conforming
to positive relevant others, but also by distancing themselves
from negative relevant others. It is worth noting that identifi-
cation with the negative character did not moderate the
effects of book reading in Studies 1 and 2, whereas identifica-
tion with the positive character did not have moderating
effects in Study 3. We believe similarity (and dissimilarity)
between the participants and the fictional role models might
have played a role in this. As social cognitive theory under-
lines, similarity is an important factor for imitation of behav-
ior (Bandura, 1997; Bandura et al., 1961). The books start
with Harry being a child and continue until he is a teenager.
Children (Study 1) and teenagers (Study 2) that participated
and Harry have a similar age, whereasVoldemort is portrayed
as an adult. This means that Harry is probably a relevant
model for children, but Voldemort is not. In other words,
independently by absolute levels of identification with the
two characters, identification with Harry Potter may be more
relevant for children than identification with Voldemort. This
would explain why book reading guides improvement of out-
group attitudes in Studies 1 and 2 only based on identification
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with Harry Potter. On the other hand, adult participants in
Study 3 may have found a child/young teenager character
(i.e., Harry Potter) less relevant as a role model. Instead, dis-
similarity from the main (adult) negative character might
have been more relevant to them. In other words, adults may
have based their attitudes more on disidentification from the
negative character rather than on identification with the posi-
tive character because of perceived dissimilarity with the role
model, independently of absolute level of identification with
the two characters. As such, it is not surprising that in Study 3
book reading was more effective for those less identified with
Voldemort. Possibly for these participants, items based on
agreement with positive values supported by Harry Potter,
rather than on identification with Harry Potter,may have had
a moderating role. We note that absolute levels of identifica-
tion with the characters, for adolescents (Study 2) and adults
(Study 3), are rather low; It is likely that, in general, partially
supporting our interpretations, these participants may be
reluctant to admit similarity to characters of children’s
books. In any case, our analyses testing moderation by char-
acter identification did not consider absolute levels of identi-
fication (which may be misleading), but relative levels of
identification (i.e., comparing those more vs. less identified
with the two main characters).
Notably, we argue that identifying with the positive charac-
ter is not the opposite of identifying with the negative charac-
ter. Indeed, the two types of identification were uncorrelated
in Studies 1 and 2, and only moderately positively correlated
in Study 3. The fact that the two types of identification were
not inversely related is not surprising. The books delve con-
sistently into the mentality,values, and beliefs of the two char-
acters, with the underlying but key message being that positive
and negative aspects of the self coexist in people; Also, very
positive characters like Harry Potter hide obscure traits and
tendencies. We believe this to be a complex message that older
rather than younger individuals are more likely to perceive.
Our results indicate perspective taking as the mediating
process of book reading. Again, in addition to being in line
with literature on intergroup contact (Hodson & Hewstone,
2013), these findings support social cognitive theory
(Bandura, 2002): Participants reading about Harry Potter’s
interactions with characters belonging to stigmatized groups
may have learnt to take the perspective of discriminated
group members and, in turn, applied this enhanced ability to
understand disadvantaged groups to real-world out-group
categories. Results also support the parasocial contact
hypothesis (Schiappa et al., 2005): Contact via fictional char-
acters improved out-group attitudes by eliciting a cognitive
process similar to that activated in real contact (i.e., perspec-
tive taking).
Although perspective taking allowed improvement of atti-
tudes toward stigmatized groups, other processes that under-
lie the effects of various forms of indirect contact could also
be involved, such as reduced intergroup anxiety (Turner
et al., 2008), inclusion of the other in the self (Cameron et al.,
2006), and intergroup self-disclosure (Turner, Hewstone, &
Voci, 2007). Future studies should include more potential
mediating factors so as to identify the key processes underly-
ing the effects of book reading.
It should be noted that, although we found that the effects
of story reading on out-group attitudes were allowed by
increased perspective taking towardstig matizedg roups, story
reading may have increased participants’ general ability to
take the perspective of others. Kidd and Castano (2013)
found in a series of studies that reading literary fiction (like
Harry Potter books are assumed to be; e.g., Alton, 2009;
Knapp, 2003), compared with reading popular fiction,
reading nonfiction, or no-reading, increases Theory of Mind
(ToM), that is, individuals’ ability to understand the subjec-
tive mental state of other people (Premack & Woodruff, 1978;
Saxe, Carey, & Kanwisher, 2004).As stated by the authors,“ lit-
erary fiction [. . .] uniquely engages the psychological pro-
cesses needed to gain access to characters’ subjective
experiences. Just as in real life, the worlds of literary fiction are
replete with complicated individuals whose inner lives are
rarely easily discerned but warrant exploration [. . .] Readers
of literary fiction must draw on more flexible interpretive
resources to infer the feelings and thoughts of characters” (p.
378). Unfortunately, since we did not assess the dimensions
conceptualized by ToM, it is not possible to state that reading
Harry Potter improved perspective taking toward the out-
group as a consequence of an improved capability of under-
standing others’ inner lives.
One could argue that the fact that the effect of book
reading was moderated by identification with main charac-
ters, rather than having a direct effect, limits the significance
of the results. However, we do not consider this to be the case.
Indeed, vicarious or indirect experiences can produce atti-
tude change if they are based on observation of only relevant
characters, with whom one can identify (Bandura, 2002).
Similarly, according to extended contact principles, extended
contact effects are stronger when there is a close psychological
relationship with the individual through which extended
contact is realized (Tausch, Hewstone, Schmid, Hughes, &
Cairns, 2011; Wright et al., 1997). Kaufman and Libby (2012)
proposed the concept of “experience taking,” through which
“readers lose themselves and assume the identity of the char-
acter, adopting the character’s thoughts, emotions, goals,
traits, and actions and experiencing the narrative as though
they were that character” (p. 2). Our findings extend this
concept, by showing that individuals change their attitudes
following book reading not only when they take the perspec-
tive (i.e., identify) with the positive character, but also when
they disidentify from the negative character.
In Study 3, a significant interaction between number of
Harry Potter films watched and identification with
12 Harry Potter and attitudes toward stigmatized groups
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116 Harry Potter and attitudes toward stigmatized groups
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Voldemort emerged with respect to out-group attitudes.
However, the fact that effects of film watching were found
only in this study suggests that the effects produced by this
variable are inconsistent. Future research may address more
closely the effect of watching highly popular fantasy movies
on out-group attitudes.
It is worth noting that, although our studies demonstrated
that reading Harry Potter novels ameliorated already moder-
ately positive (or not excessively negative) attitudes toward
stigmatized out-groups, reading the novels can potentially
tackle actual prejudice-reduction. Indeed, since disadvan-
taged groups such as those considered in the present research
are often targets of prejudice (Sidanius & Pratto, 1999), our
results suggest that reading Harry Potter may effectively help
in reducing prejudice directed at these out-groups. Moreover,
attitudes toward the in-group tend to be more positive than
attitudes toward the out-group, even when out-group atti-
tudes are moderately positive (Tajfel & Turner, 1979). This
may be the case in the intergroup contexts we considered. In
other words, prejudice may not be evident when intergroup
attitudes are considered in absolute terms, but may become
apparent when considered in relative terms. This differential
evaluation may easily transform into actual discrimination
(Nier & Gaertner, 2012); Thus, we argue that reducing the
in-group–out-group differential evaluation is crucial.
Practical implications
Educational interventions based on reading fantasy books
that have characteristics similar to those of the Harry Potter
series may improve relations with several types of stigmatized
groups. The role of educators is particularly important for
young children, for whom it might be more difficult to read
individually and comprehend the meaning of complex
books. In this case, educators can focus on specific passages
strongly related to issues of prejudice, like we have done in
Study 1. For adolescents and young adults, simply encourag-
ing the reading of this type of books may be sufficient to
improve out-group attitudes. Eventually, educators can
organize discussion groups following the readings so as to
reinforce their effects. This way, encouraging book reading
and incorporating it in school curricula may not only
increase the students’ literacy levels, but also enhance their
prosocial attitudes and behaviors. It should be noted that
individual difference variables may play a role in determining
the effectiveness of book reading. For instance, the effect of
reading fantasy books (like Harry Potter) on improved out-
group attitudes may be stronger among individuals low in
trait psychological reactance (Brehm & Brehm, 1981; Hong &
Faedda, 1996). In contrast, out-group attitudes should be
more difficult to change for individuals more inclined to
resist persuasive messages (i.e., those high in trait psychologi-
cal reactance).
An important aspect that may reinforce the effectiveness of
reading the stories of fantasy books, in which the issues of
prejudice are clearly implied, concerns their lack of direct ref-
erence to real-world groups.Since many fantasy novels do not
explicitly refer to any type of real group or category, they
address general issues of prejudice in an indirect way, thus
overcoming the barrier of direct and explicit attempts to
modify out-group attitudes, which can precipitate people’s
defensive reactions and are subject to political correctness.
Limitations
A key limitation relates to the fact that Studies 2 and 3 are cor-
relational, and thus cannot strictly allow us to draw causal
relations between the variables. However, Study 1 demon-
strates that Harry Potter stories presented in a structured
intervention have a causal effect on improvement of out-
group attitudes, when children identify with the positive
character. In addition, since Harry Potter is generally per-
ceived as a fictional book and not as a book concerning inter-
group relations and prejudice, it is unlikely that more
prejudiced individuals avoided reading these novels, that is, it
would be more likely that more prejudiced people avoid
reading books centered on intercultural topics, but their
ideology would not directly prevent them from reading
fantasy books. Moreover, longitudinal (e.g., Eller et al., 2011)
and experimental (e.g., Cameron & Rutland, 2006) evidence
shows that extended contact causally affects out-group atti-
tudes. Furthermore, in Study 1,it is not possible to differenti-
ate the effects of reading the Harry Potter passages from those
produced by the discussion led by the researcher. Discussion
can be an important part of experimental field interventions
that can strengthen their effects (Fisher, 1968; Meleady,
Hopthrow, & Crisp, 2013), although this is not always the
case. For instance, Johnson and Aboud (2013) conducted an
intervention based on reading stories of cross-group friend-
ship between an in-group and an out-group characters
among White children from 5 to 8 years. Their results showed
that attitudes toward Blacks did not change based on whether
the researcher reinforced the message of the story (a condi-
tion conceptually similar to our experimental condition in
Study 1) or instead merely read the story. This finding indi-
rectly supports the idea that story reading may also be effec-
tive when the message is not followed by a discussion. In any
case, future studies should try to isolate the net effect of the
intervention from that of post-discussion (Kelman & Fisher,
2003; Paluck & Green, 2009). For instance, the inclusion of
two additional conditions where children merely discuss
prejudice or where the reading of Harry Potter passages is not
followed by group discussion would help disentangle the
effects of Harry Potter reading from that of post-discussion.3
3Wethank an anonymous reviewer for suggesting this potential improvement
to the experimental design.
Vezzali et al. 13
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Vezzali et al. 117
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An additional limitation is that our studies do not provide
direct evidence that fantasy characters (who do not represent
specific real-world categories) are associated with a higher
number of real-world groups than characters actually belong-
ing to real-world groups (thus strengthening the effects of
book reading by reaching a larger number of out-groups).
Future studies may directly compare stories where extended
contact is with fantasy characters or with characters belong-
ing to real-world groups, in order to test this fascinating
possibility.
Finally, this research has only focused on the popular best
seller of Harry Potter; It is important to identify and test
other popular novels that can have similar effects and that
can be equally appealing to young readers. Related to this
point, we note that we did not control for the effects of
reading other fictional books where positive and negative
characters can be easily identified. However, we controlled
for general book reading because education in general (e.g.,
Bilali & Vollhardt, 2013) and book reading in particular
(Johnson, Huffman, & Jasper, 2014; Johnson, Jasper, Griffin,
& Huffman, 2013; Vezzali et al., 2012) have been shown to
be associated with reduced prejudice. Although this research
focused on Harry Potter books as they are representative of
fiction literature with large-scale appeal to the public,
similar research can focus on other popular published fic-
tional books.
Acknowledgments
We wish to thank Cristina Bonacini, Elen Bianchini, and the
Institutes Scaruffi Levi Tricolore (Reggio Emilia), Giovanni
Pascoli and Giotto (Carpi, Modena) for their help in the
organization of the study.We are also grateful to Gaia Davolio
for her assistance in data collection.
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