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The Nature of Prejudice
... Notably, two divergent scholarships attempt to explain attitudes toward the LGBTQIA+ community and support for marriage equality. Whereas one tradition argues that conservative gendered ideologies-including sexual prejudice (e.g., Anderson et al., 2017;Costa et al., 2018;Vecho et al., 2019) and sexism (e.g., Bills & Hayes, 2022;Clarke et al., 2024;Nagoshi et al., 2008;Sakalli, 2002)-predict attitudes toward LGBTQIA+ people, another tradition reveals that support for egalitarian policies can precede intergroup attitudes (e.g., Allport, 1954;Sherif & Sherif, 1953). Due to an overreliance on cross-sectional data, it remains unclear if sexual prejudice and sexism precede support for marriage equality or if people's stance on social issues can impact their prejudiced attitudes over time. ...
... As such, conservative ideologies-in particular, sexual prejudice and HS-may precede within-person changes in support for marriage equality over time. But other work contends that people's attitudes mirror social norms (Allport, 1954;Crandall et al., 2018;Sherif & Sherif, 1953). Namely, support for progressive policies predicts a reduction in prejudice and an increase in egalitarian values (e.g., Aksoy et al., 2020). ...
... Given that policy support has the potential to impact peoples' ideology over time (Allport, 1954), it is critical to assess the possible reciprocal associations between sexual prejudice, ambivalent sexism, and support for marriage equality over time. Figure 1 reveals that increases in women's sexual prejudice (b = 0.015, SE = 0.009, p = 0.120) and support for marriage equality (b = 0.006, SE = 0.009, p = 0.464) were unassociated with departures in HS across time. ...
Despite the need to identify crucial barriers to equal rights for the LGBTQIA+ community, it remains unclear if prejudiced attitudes — namely, sexual prejudice and ambivalent sexism — precede declines in support for marriage equality or if one’s policy position impacts prejudices. We examine these two possibilities by utilising four annual waves (2014-2017) of longitudinal panel data to assess the temporal ordering of sexual prejudice, ambivalent sexism and support for marriage equality across heterosexual men (n = 9,036) and women (n = 15,185). Results reveal that sexual prejudice predicts within-person declines in support for marriage equality for both women and men. This association is, however, bi-directional for men. We replicate these associations across (a) ethnic majority and minority men and women and (b) non-religious and religious men and women, albeit with a few notable exceptions: Hostile sexism precedes sexual prejudice for ethnic minority men, and benevolent sexism precedes support for marriage equality among ethnic majority group men and non-religious men. Collectively, our results demonstrate that conservative gender ideologies precede hostile attitudes toward the LGB+ community over time.
... We theorize that officers' participation in community policing is a form of interpersonal contact with an outgroup. Consistent with the "contact hypothesis" literature, increased interactions with outgroups can generate different results depending on the context of those interactions (Allport 1954;Pettigrew 1998). Specifically, we posit that community policing can shape officers' attitudes in different ways depending on (1) their pre-existing "embeddedness" in the community and (2) whether their experiences raise the salience of threats to officer safety. ...
... Our qualitative observations led us to view the process by which community policing shapes officers' attitudes toward citizens through the lens of intergroup contact theory (Allport 1954;Pettigrew 1998). The "us versus them" outlook that many officers hold toward citizens is similar to the types of prejudices that individuals hold toward social outgroups. ...
... In contrast to much of the conventional wisdom on community policing, the contact theory literature suggests that merely conveying knowledge about an outgroup has a weak effect on attitudes (Hopkins, Sides, and Citrin 2019;Pettigrew and Tropp 2008). The effects of social contact are mediated by (1) the content of information about the outgroup, (2) whether the nature of interactions reduces anxiety about outgroup interactions, (3) whether contact induces an increase in perspective-taking, and (4) whether contact creates new shared identities with outgroup members (Allport 1954;Gaertner et al. 1999;Hewstone, Rubin, and Willis 2002;Pettigrew and Tropp 2008;Tajfel 1978). ...
In contrast to the expansive work on how community policing affects citizens’ attitudes toward police, existing research says little about how community policing affects officers’ attitudes toward citizens. We examine officer-facing outcomes using an experiment in the Philippines, in which a random subset of a province’s 705 officers were assigned to intensive community policing activities for seven months. Treatment officers saw improved understanding of citizen concerns, but did not develop greater empathy or trust toward civilians, nor an increased sense of accountability for citizen-facing misconduct. We build from the experiment to develop an inductive theory of bureaucrat-citizen contact, relying on qualitative observations and exploratory analyses of heterogeneous effects. We propose that contact with citizens is only likely to improve attitudes among frontline bureaucrats who are not ex-ante embedded in their communities. Moreover, contact may have negative effects when it reveals threats to bureaucrats’ personal safety.
... This is because at the root of violent ideologies are prejudicial attitudes toward others who are different from the self in terms of social categories such as race/ethnicity, gender/sexual orientation (e.g., Perliger, 2019). Moreover, prejudicial attitudes are learned early in life from families and close relationships such as friendships (Allport, 1954), and among veterans, continued exposure in the military and after military service (e.g., Curtin, 1997) suggests ideological messaging has a longer incubation period and stronger reinforcement given its occurrence in various contexts (e.g., civilian, military). ...
... Intergroup contact, especially between people of different races/ ethnicities, is inevitable across the military lifecycle. With early research (Allport, 1954;Sherif, 1954Sherif, /1988, mitigating prejudice across the military lifecycle includes the development of interracial friendships. Also, cross-cultural learning, which can begin with an open attitude while in the military, can be more intentional after military service. ...
... And who exactly is the civilian community? Here we invoke Allport (1954) and look to families, schools, and places of worship and, more importantly, place the greater burden of intercultural education on the school to "set before the child a higher code than is learned at home" (p. 511). ...
In the aftermath of several wars within the last century, seminal research forewarned against the rising tide of radicalization and violent extremism (VE) among military veterans. Building on the pioneering work, the current study explores risk and protective factors related to military veteran extremism. Utilizing the retrospective thick description approach, the study utilized both primary (e.g., interviews) and open-source (e.g., court transcripts) data to examine and contextualize the VE trajectory across the military lifecycle (premilitary, military, postmilitary), as informed by people from various social networks (e.g., family, civilian/premilitary). The select sample comprised 30 VE veterans and 30 VE civilians who committed/planned a VE act between 2003 and 2019, and a comparison group of 10 non-VE veterans (i.e., veterans who resisted radicalization and VE). Directed content analyses results yielded a conceptual model reflecting three general risk factors ( Transmission of Prejudice, Trauma and Adversity, and Transition ) common among civilian and veterans alike. In addition, behavioral and cognitive strategies related to three general protective strategies ( Resistance against Transmission of Prejudice, Addressing Trauma and Overcoming Adversity, Navigating Transitions ) were found to steer veterans away from radicalization and VE across the military lifecycle. Implications for future research are discussed.
... Friendships are locales for diversifying contact contexts (Harris, 2016); they promote perspectivetaking and intergroup empathy (Aberson & Haag, 2007) and consequently lead to improved intergroup relations. Additionally, from the intergroup contact lens, Turner et al. (2007) summarized past studies and concluded that close interpersonal relationships, resulting from high-quality contact, facilitate many optimal contact conditions outlined in the Contact Hypothesis (e.g., equal status, cooperation, interdependence, common goals; Allport, 1954;Pettigrew, 2021). ...
... We note that the average score of contact frequency with the Chinese student contact is rather low (i.e., 2.91 on a 7-point scale), indicating the problematic nature of intercultural contact in the American and Chinese context (see Paolini et al., 2018). Research has long established that the macro-level structural realities and status differences influence micro-level relationships (Allport, 1954;Pettigrew, 2021). The problematic effects of interpersonal contact between American college students and CISs may be a direct reflection of the negative political and economic China-US relations and the lack of institutional support for intergroup contact between CISs and American host nationals (Zhang et al., 2023). ...
... The problematic effects of interpersonal contact between American college students and CISs may be a direct reflection of the negative political and economic China-US relations and the lack of institutional support for intergroup contact between CISs and American host nationals (Zhang et al., 2023). When direct contact with Chinese individuals is limited or inadequate due to lack of institutional support and unequal status (Allport, 1954;Pettigrew, 2021), media, which tend to be negative about China and Chinese people, may play a stronger role in influencing intergroup perceptions of Chinese people in general. Future research should also include perceptions of institutional support and mediated contact in explicating cognitive attitudes (Zhang et al., 2023). ...
From the intergroup contact perspective, we examined the influence of American college students’ ( N = 375) contact quality and frequency with their most frequent Chinese international student (CIS) contact on their cognitive attitudes toward Chinese international students (CISs), as well as the mediating role played by relational solidarity with the contact and the moderating role of the type of outgroup contact. Results showed that contact quality with the CIS contact positively predicted perceptions of CISs as nice and kind and negatively predicted perceptions of CISs as rude and annoying, shy and socially awkward, and culturally maladjusted, independent of the moderating variable. On the contrary, contact frequency negatively predicted perceptions of CISs as nice and kind and positively predicted perceptions of CISs as rude and annoying when the outgroup contact was an acquaintance. Additionally, results showed that both contact quality and frequency positively predicted relational solidarity with the Chinese contact, which was, in turn, associated with positive and negative perceptions of CISs. Particularly, these significant indirect effects of contact quality were stronger when the CIS contact was a friend, indicating the significance and complexities of our findings.
... Frequent intergroup interactions, while fostering economic prosperity, have also brought about a series of intergroup issues, such as international conflicts, racial disputes, and ethnic tensions. Intergroup Contact Theory (Allport, 1954) posits that contact between different groups, including both direct and indirect contact, can effectively improve intergroup relations, and this effect is consistent across groups and cultures (Lemmer & Wagner, 2015;Miles & Crisp, 2014;Pettigrew & Tropp, 2006). As direct contact is often limited by various factors (e.g., physical barriers, normative restrictions), psychological researchers have developed forms of indirect contact (White et al., 2021), such as imagined intergroup contact. ...
... This study aims to explore the effects of imagined intergroup contact on common ingroup identity and its underlying mechanism. identification, providing empirical evidence for Intergroup Contact Theory (Allport, 1954) and the Common Ingroup Identity Model (Gaertner & Dovidio, 2000), thereby expanding the scope of research on the impact of imagined intergroup contact on identity. Second, previous studies on common ingroup identity have mostly focused on the consequences and potential benefits of inclusive social categorization, but little is known about the pathways and mechanisms through which common ingroup identity is formed (Čehajić-Clancy et al., 2023). ...
... The results of Study 1 indicate that imagined intergroup contact enhances common ingroup identity, supporting the contact hypothesis (Allport, 1954) and the common ingroup identity model (Gaertner et al., 1993), thereby supporting H1. Study 2 will further explore the mechanism by which imagined intergroup contact enhances common ingroup identity by examining the mediating role of perceived intergroup similarity. ...
... Zuvor werde ich in Abschnitt 3.2 zum besseren Verständnis von Stigmatisierung tiefergehend auf die Funktionen, im Sinne der Ursachen, von Stigmatisierung und in Abschnitt 3.3 auf die Rolle von Kommunikation für den Stigmatisierungsprozess eingehen. (Allport, 1954;R. A. Smith, 2007). ...
... Die Funktionen von Stigmatisierung gehen jedoch weit über das Einsparen von kognitiven Ressourcen hinaus. So schlägt Allport (1954) vor, dass Abwertungsprozesse dazu dienen, besser mit Emotionen wie Angst und Schuld umzugehen, Wills (1981) argumentiert, dass Selbstwertaufwertung durch soziale Abwärtsvergleiche die zentrale Rolle spielt und Corrigan et al. (2003) sehen als Motiv für Stigmatisierung das menschliche Bestreben, die wirtschaftlichen und politischen Unterschiede zwischen der Mehrheit und stigmatisierten Untergruppen zu verstehen ("system-justification", S. 148). Von J. C. Phelan et al. (2008), Kurzban und Leary (2001) und anderen systematisiert, können insgesamt drei unterschiedliche übergeordnete Ursachen und Funktionen von Stigmatisierung identifiziert werden. ...
... B. Keyes, 2002). Durch ihre Vereinfachung einer komplexen und heterogenen Realität bieten soziale Kategorien einen Ordnungsrahmen für das Strukturieren und Vereinfachen sozialer Situationen, insbesondere wenn wahrgenommene Unterschiede und Gemeinsamkeiten gut zur Differenzierung und Kategorisierung in einer Situation herangezogen werden können, wenn außer der Zugehörigkeit zu einer sozialen Kategorie nur wenige andere Informationen vorliegen oder wenn unklare, zweideutige Situationen gedeutet oder vergangene Situationen trotz Gedächtnislücken rekonstruiert werden müssen (Allport, 1954;Klauer, 2020;Lippmann, 1922). Zudem kann die Anwendung sozialer Kategorien zur Schonung kognitiver Ressourcen beitragen, was je nach Situation und dem Ausmaß anderer kognitiver Anforderungen mehr oder weniger erforderlich ist (Macrae & Bodenhausen, 2001;Sherman & Frost, 2000). ...
Die Arbeit von Anna Freytag setzt sich theoretisch mit dem Phänomen der gruppenbezogenen abwertenden Kommunikation auseinander. Die Kommunikationswissenschaft und andere Disziplinen haben sich in der Vergangenheit unter einer Vielzahl von Begriffen und aus unterschiedlichen theoretischen Perspektiven mit gruppenbezogener abwertender Kommunikation auseinandergesetzt. Die etablierten Begriffe bergen jedoch Herausforderungen und vernachlässigen zum Teil soziologische und sozialpsychologische Perspektiven, wie etwa das Konzept der Stigmatisierung. Vor diesem Hintergrund entwickelt die Autorin mit „Stigmatisierender Kommunikation“ ein eigenes kommunikationswissenschaftliches Konzept, das Erkenntnisse aus verschiedenen Disziplinen integriert. Darauf aufbauend entwirft sie ein Forschungsprogramm für die weitere wissenschaftliche Auseinandersetzung mit stigmatisierender Kommunikation. Es werden Forschungsfragen zu beteiligten Akteur*innen, Motiven und Determinanten, zur inhaltlichen Ausgestaltung und zu den vielfältigen Auswirkungen stigmatisierender Kommunikation abgeleitet. Dazu werden methodische Ansätze und Herausforderungen für eine erfolgreiche empirische Untersuchung stigmatisierender Kommunikation diskutiert.
... An extensively interdisciplinary theoretical framework underpins the CoBLaLT method. 9 It is originally inspired and based on theories in the field of social psychology -basically the Contact Hypothesis 10 (Allport 1954;Pettigrew 1998; and integrates concepts from intercultural studies (Bennett 1993;Čok 2008;), social psychology and language studies (Gardner 1985), psychology of groups and of relations (among those Berndt 1982;Bukowski/Hoza 1989), multilingualism, second language teaching and learning (Brumfit 1984;Canale 1983;Dörnyei 2013) as well as theories of second language acquisition (Gass-Selinker 2001;Krashen 1981;Long 1996;Schumann 1997;Young 2011), sociocultural language pedagogy and network based language teaching (Belz 2003;Lantolf/Thorne 2006;Kern 1996;Warschauer 1996). The underlying learning theories of the framework are those derived from social constructivism inspired by authors such as Kelly (1963) and Vygotsky (1978;1986), who put experience and social interaction at the centre of the learning process. ...
... This is related to the fact that frequency of contact does not necessarily lead to in-depth encounters (cf. Allport 1954;Pettigrew 1998;. Hence, the guide advocates that in depth interpersonal cross-border encounters should be based on deep, guided, structured reflection on experience. ...
Cavaion, Irina M. (2022): Teaching and learning the language of the neighbouring country: Tools for mainstream primary education in the Slovenian-Italian border area. Zeitschrift für Interkulturellen Fremdsprachenunterricht 27: 1, 81-103. http://tujournals.ulb.tu-darmstadt.de/index.php/zif Jahrgang 27, Nummer 1 (April 2022), Abstract: The article presents two central tools for teaching neighbour languages in border areas within the didactic framework of the Contact-Based-(Neighbour-)Language-Learning-and-Teaching method (CoBLaLT, Cavaion 2015; 2016; 2019), namely a teacher's guide to contact-based neighbour language teaching and the digital portfolio 'My multimedia autobiography of cross-border contacts' for pupils aged 11 to 15. They were developed as part of a postdoctoral project between 2017-2019 in the Italian-Slovenian border region. The article highlights the importance of making language teaching research a collaborative process between a strong scientific and professional community that thus fosters innovation and effectiveness of methods and contents in neighbour language learning. In diesem Artikel werden zwei zentrale Instrumente für den Nachbarsprachenunterricht in Grenzregionen vorgestellt, die im Rahmen des didaktischen Konzeptes für "kontaktbasiertes Nachbarsprachen Lehren und Lernen" entwickelt wurden: ein Leitfaden für Lehrende für kontaktbasierten Nachbarsprachenunterricht sowie das digitale Portfolio ‚Meine Multimedia-Autobiografie für grenzüberschreitende Kontakte' für Schüler und Schülerinnen im Alter von 11 bis 15 Jahren. Die Instrumente wurden als Teils eine Post-Doc-Projekts zwischen 2017 und 2019 in der italienisch-slowenischen Grenzregion entwickelt. Der Artikel hebt die Relevanz kollaborativer Sprachlehrforschung hervor, die durch enge Zusammenarbeit von Wissenschaft und Unterrichtspraxis Innovation und Effektivität von Methoden und Inhalten im Nachbarsprachenunterricht sicherstellt.
... The most accepted definition of identification emphasizes that the audience takes the perspective or identity of a character (Cohen, 2001). In the MIC literature, identification has also been used as a conceptual proxy for empathy (Banas et al., 2020), a key variable in changing intergroup attitudes (Allport, 1954;Pettigrew & Tropp, 2006). Although identification is often described as having four dimensions (Cohen, 2001), the perspective-taking dimension of identification is particularly important in MIC (Chung & Slater, 2013;Ortiz & Harwood, 2007). ...
... Similarly, intergroup anxiety described as the negative feelings (e.g., fear, worry) that emerge when an individual interacts or thinks about interacting with an outgroup (Stephan & Stephan, 1985) is also expected to be influenced by character involvement (Wong et al., 2022). As in face-to-face interactions (Allport, 1954), intergroup anxiety is theorized and has been observed to be associated with attitudes toward stigmatized groups in a mediated context (Mazziotta et al., 2011). Intergroup anxiety is closely linked to an individual's self-efficacy, such that feeling incapable of participating in an intergroup interaction increases fear about those interactions (Stephan, 2014). ...
People with depression, a commonly stigmatized disease, often experience discrimination that can negatively impact their academic achievement, access to housing, and health outcomes. Mediated intergroup contact (MIC) suggests that positive media representations of mental illness can attenuate the stigmatizing attitudes held by the general public and promote behaviors that may close the disparate gaps in health outcomes. However, much of the research on MIC focuses on how high-status social groups (e.g., neurotypical groups) perceive and react to stigmatized social groups (e.g., neurodivergent groups). Therefore, this study examined how exposure to one of three narratives about depression (vs. a nonhealth-related narrative control) impacted individuals diagnosed with depression (n = 414) and individuals never diagnosed with depression (n = 350). Findings suggest that those never diagnosed with depression reported more theoretically consistent results regarding intergroup attitudes and behavioral intentions to participate in intergroup interactions and vote on health policies, while those diagnosed with depression had more mixed results. The expected similarities and unexpected differences between the groups may inform theoretical implications regarding MIC generally and practical suggestions regarding the use of entertainment media as an intervention to promote intergroup and intragroup relationships and avoid self-stigma among those diagnosed with a stigmatized disease.
... Civility as social practice and its relationship to democratic culture is discussed (Shils 1991). Moving towards the case, bridgebuilding's roots in contact theory and its contemporary application to affective polarization are examined (Allport 1954). Finally, a detailed overview of the bridging organization Braver Angels is offered. ...
... In the US, bridgebuilding has grown in popularity as a strategy to reduce polarization (Baldassarri 2021;Doornbosch et al 2024;Gehl and Porter 2020). Rooted in contact theory, it asserts positive contact between adversarial groups can defuse tensions and foster peace (Allport 1954;Levendusky 2023;Pettigrew et al 2011). In its original formulation, Gordon Allport's contact hypothesis (1954) posits that prejudice can be reduced should people from historically conflicting groups make contact under a set of positive conditions. ...
Over the last decade, ever-increasing polarization has exacerbated political divisions threatening both the civil sphere and democracy itself. In the United States, concern over democracy's future has led to the growth of self-described bridgebuilding organizations. Bridgebuilding brings people from across the political aisle together for dialogue with the aim of lessening polarization. This paper examines bridgebuilding through a detailed case study of one such organization. Drawing on observation, interviews, and participant surveys, the study describes the motivations and experiences of bridgebuilders. The paper finds that bridgebuilding allows participants to "rehearse civility" experiencing the civility and goodwill they crave in their own lives and desire for the broader society in a relatively safe and controlled setting. Rehearsing civility invites participants to invoke the civil-reaffirming social bonds, speaking to a broader sense of goodwill, in turn rehumanizing their political opponents. Though not without its limitations, the growth of bridgebuilding highlights a deep desire for civility and the experiential and affective pleasure it allows. Civility as mutual regard and as bonds to democratic institutions is considered.
... In its simplest form, preju dice can be defined as thinking ill of others without sufficient warrant. Allport (1954) specifically defined ethnic prejudice as 'an antipathy based upon a faulty and inflexible generalization. It may be felt or expressed. ...
... Stigma models place more emphasis on targets, particularly in terms of stereotypes, identity, and emotions, whereas prejudice models focus more on the perpetrators, including individual discriminatory behaviour outside interactions (Phelan et al. 2008, p. 360). These differences reflect the con trasting foci in the two seminal works on prejudice and stigma: Allport (1954) clearly focused on the perpetrator, while Goffman (1963) focused more on the target. Furthermore, Phelan et al. (2008) identified a distinction between 'group' characteristics (those shared by family members) and 'individual' charac teristics (occurring more sporadically within families), which is significant in understanding models of prejudice and stigma. ...
This publication explores the complex relationship between stigma and substance use disorders through personal case histories, scientific studies and critical analyses. It examines the origins, forms and consequences of stigma for those affected and discusses strategies to reduce stigma and discrimination, including educational initiatives and support programmes. The aim is to replace negative perceptions with empathy and knowledge by understanding the roots and effects of stigmatisation. The book offers practical steps for individuals, families and groups to combat stigma and support treatment.
... Affective polarization as an emotional phenomenon, based on works like Iyengar et al. (2012Iyengar et al. ( , 2019, broadens the perspective by incorporating the emotional dimension of political divisions. This approach has been employed by Hernández, Anduiza, and Rico (2021) and Rodon (2022) to explore how negative emotions, rather than ideological differences, reinforce polarization in The intergroup contact theory (Allport, 1954) posits that direct contact between groups under conditions of equality can reduce prejudice and divisions. Studies such as Kalla and Broockman (2022) and Rossiter and Carlson (2023) have demonstrated that structured personal interactions can diminish affective polarization among voters from different parties. ...
... A critical aspect that emerges from this review is the relationship between affective polarization and democratic legitimacy. Studies by Gibson However, the reviewed studies also highlight the need to integrate additional perspectives, such as Intergroup Contact Theory (Allport, 1954) and Affective ...
Objective: Affective polarization has emerged as a critical factor shaping electoral dynamics in contemporary democracies. This systematic review aims to analyze theoretical frameworks, methodological approaches, and empirical findings concerning affective polarization in electoral processes from 2021 to 2024. Method: Using PRISMA guidelines, the study identified 28 peer-reviewed articles from indexed databases, focusing on diverse contexts and research designs. Results and Discussion: Findings reveal that affective polarization intensifies during elections, driven by factors such as partisan identity, campaign strategies, and media exposure. Bipartisan systems exhibit higher polarization towards political elites, while multiparty systems show moderated levels of polarization, particularly among voters. Digital platforms and traditional media exacerbate affective divides by reinforcing echo chambers and amplifying emotional responses, such as anger and hostility. This phenomenon poses challenges to the achievement of SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), as it can undermine democratic stability and trust in institutions. The study also highlights promising interventions, such as cross-partisan dialogues, which align with SDG targets by fostering empathy, reducing polarization, and promoting inclusive political engagement, albeit with contextual limitations. Research Implications: The review underscores the interplay between affective polarization and democratic legitimacy, particularly in fragile political systems. It advocates for integrating structural, emotional, and technological perspectives to comprehensively address this phenomenon. These insights contribute to understanding the multifaceted nature of affective polarization and its implications for political cohesion and democratic stability. Originality/Value: This study provides a comprehensive systematic review of recent theoretical frameworks, methodological approaches, and empirical findings on affective polarization, emphasizing its implications for electoral processes worldwide. The findings highlight the dynamic nature of affective polarization, its critical relationship with electoral processes, and its implications for democratic stability.
... Extant research shows that intergroup contact (Allport, 1954), the interaction between members of opposing social groups, is a reliable means to reducing prejudice (Pettigrew & Tropp, 2006). In highly segregated contexts or contexts where psychological barriers to direct contact exist, alternative contact forms have been suggested as viable alternatives to face-to-face contact (i.e., indirect contact techniques). ...
... What constitutes positive contact, however, is somewhat elusive in the relevant literature. Allport (1954) specified the conditions that would render contact successful such as equal status and cooperation, but subsequent meta-analytic studies yielded that these factors are merely facilitating, not necessary, for contact to work (Pettigrew & Tropp, 2006). Perhaps the only clear direction provided by research on the nature of good-quality, positive contact is that it should set the ground for the development of friendships (Pettigrew, 1998). ...
Heeding calls for a closer examination of intergroup encounters in intergroup contact research, we examine the accounts of individuals asked to imagine positive contact with an outgroup member to understand what contributes to rendering the encounter positive for them. Additionally, we examine whether individuals from groups representing opposite sides of a conflict construct positive contact in distinct ways. Such a comparison can shed light to a commonly registered asymmetry in contact studies whereby contact mainly benefits majority than minority group members. Toward that end, we used the imagined contact stories of 24 Greek Cypriots (majority) and 22 Turkish Cypriots (minority) in the ethnically divided island of Cyprus, which we subjected to a thematic analysis. Our results show that the two groups differed in how they construed positive contact in two important ways: (a) Greek Cypriots represented the outgroup member as a likable character and sought for superficial interactions to avoid sensitive discussion topics, whereas Turkish Cypriots focused on how their interlocutor viewed them and sought for depth, not superficiality, in the interaction; (b) Greek Cypriots abided to a general plot of happy-ending fiction and were influenced by their community’s master narratives of conflict to achieve that, whereas Turkish Cypriots, whose stories were more inspired by real-life incidents, used the imagined contact space to give a positive twist to otherwise unpleasant real-life intergroup experiences. We interpret these differences drawing primarily on the concepts of intergroup contact, master narratives of conflict, and minority–majority dynamics and conclude with ideas for future research.
... Allport identified four contact conditions to reduce intergroup bias. These include support from the authorities, equal status, common aims, and cooperation (Allport 1954). Also, young people mentioned many conditions for living together in this review, including helping each other, acc pting the other and otherness, meeting without prejudice, tolerance, the will to live together, equality, and no dominance (Knauth 2008, 230;Jozsa 2008, 192). ...
... Confronting the other or the unfamiliar may contribute to the awareness of one's prejudices, questioning them, and reaching critical self-consciousness (Gill 2014, 176). In addition, common goals and cooperation were Allport's (1954) last two optimal conditions for increasing contact. Religious education classes, which students in this review regard as a safe space for religious and existential discussions (McKenna, Sean, and Robert 2009, 64;Jozsa 2008, 205), can provide a favourable environment to achieve these goals. ...
... Consequently, controversies surrounding the acceptance of homosexuality highlight societal preoccupation with the perceived morality and appropriateness of homosexuality (Bailey et al., 2016). Prejudice, as defined by Allport (1954), is the "negative attitude toward a specific group and its members" (p. 9). ...
... Research supports that religion generally correlates positively with various forms of prejudice (Whitley, 2009). Allport (1954) argued that religion is paradoxical, as it can both foster and mitigate prejudice. This is evident in the widespread prejudice against homosexuals that is often linked to religiosity in society. ...
Introduction
Prejudice toward sexual minorities remains pervasive despite many nations gravitating toward liberalism. Religion continues to be a significant predictor of prejudice against homosexuality, even in more liberal countries. This study contributes to the existing literature on sexual prejudice by examining the roles of religiosity, happiness, and democracy at both individual and country levels to better understand the complex nature of sexual prejudice toward homosexuals.
Methods
Using a joint dataset from the European Value Survey and World Values Survey collected from 34 European countries between 2017 and 2022 (N = 43,249), we tested the role of religiosity, democratic values, and happiness as potential predictors of sexual prejudice toward homosexuals.
Results
Results demonstrate a strong relationship between religiosity and sexual prejudice, while democratic values and happiness were associated with greater acceptance of homosexuality. Further moderation analysis revealed significant variation in tolerance toward homosexuals. Specifically, the acceptance of homosexuality among religious individuals is associated with their levels of happiness and support for democratic values.
Conclusions
The findings highlight the importance of a multi-level approach to understanding the complexities of prejudice against homosexuals.
Policy Implications
The evidence can inform proactive measures to prevent discrimination against sexual minority groups and enhance their legal protection.
... In line with Allport's (1954) intergroup contact hypothesis, numerous studies show that familiarity with mental health difficulties, whether through personal experience or within social networks, reduces stigma (Corrigan et al., 2012;Thornicroft et al., 2016). As a result, inducing social contact has been considered as an effective strategy for reducing overall stigma levels, as well as for reducing disparities among demographic groups (DuPont-Reyes et al., 2023;Stuart et al., 2014). ...
Mental health stigma poses a significant burden on affected individuals, particularly adolescents, who are especially vulnerable to its consequences. However, the processes and predictors of adolescent mental health stigma remain underexplored. Guided by the Etiology and Effects of Stigma model, this study examines a broad range of factors that shape mental health stigma in this population. Data were drawn from the Red Noses Culturally Sensitive Stigma Survey, a cross-sectional study involving 4,752 final-grade students across 38 secondary schools in Flanders, Belgium. Stigmatizing attitudes and social distance were assessed using a vignette describing a peer with depressive symptoms. Stepwise multilevel linear regression models revealed key differences in stigma based on social background and elucidated the nuanced roles of familiarity and causal attributions. Notably, a dissonance emerged between stigmatizing attitudes and social distance, suggesting that endorsing stereotypes does not necessarily translate into discriminatory behavior. Furthermore, our findings diverge from previous research on the Etiology and Effects of Stigma model in adults, indicating that while contact-based and attributional factors significantly influence stigma, they do not fully explain variations across social backgrounds. These findings underscore the complex and multifaceted nature of adolescent mental health stigma and highlight the limitations of interventions that focus solely on altering attributions to mitigate stigma.
... In der ursprünglich von Allport (1954) formulierten und von Autor*innen wie Pettigrew (1998) ausgearbeiteten Kontakthypothese wird davon ausgegangen, dass der Kontakt zwischen Mitgliedern verschiedener sozialer Gruppen unter bestimmten Voraussetzungen im Laufe der Zeit zu einer Reduzierung von Vorurteilen und Feindseligkeit gegenüber der Fremdgruppe führen kann. In der Literatur bzw. in den hier herangezogenen Metaanalysen finden sich positive Zusammenhänge zwischen extremistischen Einstellungen und homogenen Peers (r = .42) ...
Extremismus ist ein wachsendes Problem in Europa. Die Radikalisierung, d. h. der Prozess, durch den Menschen zu Extremist*innen werden, beginnt schon früh im Leben. Risiko-und Schutzfaktoren für Extremismus sind gut erforscht, aber es bleibt die Frage, inwieweit die jüngere Generation extremistische Einstellungen reproduziert und welche Bedingungsfaktoren insbesondere in der Adoleszenz eine Rolle spielen. Auf der Grundlage des Radikalisierungsmodells von Beelmann (2020) und Metastudien wurden erklärende Faktoren in die Studie aufgenommen. Die Datenbasis besteht aus einer Stichprobe von 7779 Siebtklässler*innen aus Niedersachsen, die im Jahr 2022 vom Kriminologischen Forschungsinstitut Niedersachsen erhoben wurde. Anhand dieser Stichprobe wurden extremistische Einstellungen und Bedingungsfaktoren sowohl für islamistische als auch für rechtsextremistische Einstellungen untersucht. Es zeigt sich, dass für Muslim*innen vor allem das Gefühl der Ausgrenzung als Muslim*in, Autoritarismus und mangelnde Gesetzestreue eine bedeutende Rolle bei der Erklärung islamistischer Einstellungen spielen. Bei rechtsextremen Einstellungen sind die bedeutsamsten Bedingungsfaktoren unter anderem Autoritarismus, mangelnde Gesetzestreue sowie schlechte Schulnoten.
... In his influential and seminal study, The Nature of Prejudice, Allport (1954) argues that prejudice and conflict between groups can be reduced if members of the groups interact with each other. Then, this scholar defines prejudice as the "thinking ill of others without sufficient warrant" (Allport 1954, 5). ...
The purpose of this research study is to introduce a novel model explaining college students’ attitudes toward undocumented Latin American immigrants in the US. For this purpose, the author surveyed a representative sample of 225 Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) students in the state of Georgia in USA. The outcome variable is “GGC students’ opinion on undocumented Latin American immigrants’ contribution to improve or degrade the US culture.” The assumption is that the input variables of the model: social structure, group threat, self-interest, and cultural identity affect college students’ attitudes towards undocumented Latin American immigrants in the US. Results reveal that the expected probability of a student being anti-immigrant has higher probabilities (18.32%), as compared to a student having pro-immigrant attitudes (1.5%) of indicating that the Latin American immigrants contribute to degrading the US culture.
... In our theory, nonwork social segregation will play an indirect role in an officer's policing decisions by affecting how much positive contact they have with members of different social groups. Second, the conditions for contact to reduce prejudice, as initially articulated by Allport (1954)-and which have received relatively little empirical examination (seePaluck et al., 2019)-are unlikely to be met in police-civilian interactions but are likely to be met in officers' social lives. How these two kinds of contact interact and influence officers' decision-making is the main focus of our theory. ...
We analyze a formal model of social contact and discrimination in the context of policing. Officers decide how to interact with members of two social groups while working and while socializing. The officers do not fully distinguish between their experiences of crime across these two contexts (“coarse thinking”), so they end up with excessively positive views of groups they socialize with and excessively negative views of those they police. This creates dual feedback loops as officers choose to socialize more with groups they view favorably and over-police those they view as “more criminal.” Interventions that induce positive contact with an overpoliced group can mitigate the officer’s discriminatory policing. However, this beneficial effect only persists if the policy intervention creates sustained positive contact. Our results provide a novel theoretical microfoundation for the contact hypothesis and highlight why effects of many policy interventions aimed at increasing positive contact may be short-lived.
... Furthermore, we can hypothesize that the unique setting of intergenerational board games might also explain the absence of antisocial behaviors. These results could be understood in relation to the Contact Theory, which posits that for positive outcomes between two groups, four essential conditions must be met: equal status between the groups, shared goals, cooperative interactions, and endorsement by authorities (Allport 1954). This theory has previously been applied to intergenerational contexts (Caspi 1984), showing that it can improve intergenerational interactions and promote positive behaviors between people of different generations (Jarrott and Smith 2011). ...
Social interactions are essential for both older adults and children, and engaging in intergenerational leisure activities offers social benefits for both generations. Board games stand out as a relevant medium for bringing together participants of different ages. However, their social features within an intergenerational context remain largely unexplored. This observational study sought to explore prosocial behaviors exhibited by older adults and school-aged children during both cooperative and competitive board games. Specifically, 11 dyads, each consisting of an older adult and a child, were filmed while playing a cooperative and a competitive board game. The results revealed that the older adults demonstrated more prosocial behaviors than the children, and the competitive setting fostered more pro-social behaviors than the cooperative one. Furthermore, intergenerational board games elicited positive affects among players, though the older participants reported facing significant difficulties and exerting considerable effort during the game sessions. These findings can inform the development of intergenerational programs aimed at fostering positive social interactions between older adults and children, serving as valuable guidelines for practitioners when selecting board games for such activities.
... The strategy focusses on building positive relationships on the basis of mutual understanding and respect and is delivered through several funded programmes with key priority themes: children and young people, a shared community, a safe community and cultural expression. This approach taken within the strategy is based on the contact hypothesis which holds that intergroup contact, under certain conditions, can reduce prejudice and improve cross-community relations (Allport, 1954;Hewstone & Swart, 2011). Hence, numerous projects were funded to support cross-community contact through interface projects (barriers which separated the two communities), victims and survivors support groups, youth engagement, cultural exchanges and grassroots community development projects. ...
This paper examines why, some 25 years beyond the Belfast-Good Friday Agreement, Northern Ireland (NI) remains a highly polarised society despite the return of devolution (in February 2024) after a 2-year hiatus. Using the theoretical lens of social capital, it draws on the Northern Ireland Life and Times survey and the World Values survey (the latter conducted for the first time in NI) to examine levels of trust as a pre-requisite to reconciliation between the two main communities. The research finds a high degree of trust towards people of another religion and limited affective polarisation across the main political parties. Yet government community relations policies appear to have had limited impact over time and may contribute to ‘bad social capital’ through bonding within communities at the expense of ‘the other’. The paper considers tackling social and economic inequalities, common to both communities, as a means of bridging social capital.
... Sport participation is a communal experience, where people have shared goals and strive for a common outcome (Lee and Cunningham, 2014). These are the very conditions that serve to reduce intergroup anxiety and promote convivial interactions among people who are different from one another (Allport, 1954;Pettigrew and Tropp, 2006). Indeed, sport can serve as a site for reducing prejudicial norms, and it is even more effective than other bias reducing strategies, like music (Gim and Harwood, 2023). ...
Introduction
This study examines the role of societal, interpersonal, and individual factors in explaining Europeans’ attitudes toward gender equality in sport and the role of interactions between gender, age, and social class.
Methods
The empirical analysis uses survey data from residents in 27 European countries in 2022 (n = 19,396). Respondents’ attitudes toward gender equality in sport are captured by two statements about evenly following female and male sport in the media and the inspirational potential of female role models among managers, athletes, officials, and coaches. Regression analyses are estimated with the attitude variables as outcomes. Societal (gender equality climate in country), interpersonal (sport participation), and individual factors (gender, age, social class; and their interactions) served as independent variables.
Results
The results show that respondents have higher attitudes toward female role models than toward female sport in the media. A country’s gender equality climate has a negative association with following female sport in the media, but a positive one with female role models. Sport participation is positively associated with female sport in the media. Women score higher on both attitude measures. Older individuals and those from lower social classes evenly follow female sport in the media. Interactions between gender, age, and social class also explain attitudes toward gender equality in sport.
Discussion
This study is innovative as it provides information about how the resident population thinks about gender equality in sport and which factors are relevant for higher or lower attitudes. The European-wide dataset is unique and allows a comprehensive analysis.
... Similarly, Nettler (1946) reported small but positive correlations between knowledge about Japanese Americans (e.g., anthropological and contemporary knowledge) and favorable attitudes toward this minoritized group. Learning about (racial) outgroups is also a mechanism through which intergroup contact improves intergroup attitudes in Allport's (1954) formulation of contact theory. ...
Is racial ignorance a cause of lay opposition to critical race theory (CRT)? In Study 1, undergraduates completed a test of racial knowledge and indicated support for CRT tenets (e.g., that racism is common and structural; that race is socially constructed and intersectional). Accurate racial knowledge, determined by signal detection analysis, predicted tenet support, even when controlling for racial prejudice, social dominance, and political conservatism. In three experiments, White undergraduates learned critical knowledge about race vs. poverty or transportation (Studies 2 and 3, respectively) or structural racism vs. pig intelligence (Study 4). In each, critical racial knowledge increased CRT tenet support. In Study 1, racial knowledge predicted blind patriotism negatively but constructive patriotism positively. Acquiring critical racial knowledge in Studies 2–4 did not lead participants to distance from America, despite claims of cultural critics. Teaching critical knowledge about race may be an effective means to promote racial understanding.
... Integration of specifi c cultural content is not only important for the migrants, but also for the domicile community. Widening knowledge about the origin of new neighbors can help reduce fear and anxiety, and prevent bias and stereotypes, according to the "contact hypothesis" (Allport, 1954).This is a recommendation, however, that is not always met. In relation to pedagogy, there is clear evidence of the importance of teacher expectations for student aspirations and attainment (Brind, Harper, & Moore, 2008). ...
This paper is an analytical response to the refugee crisis and massive migration started by the war in Syria. It aims to provide an orientation toward the most important ingredients of successful education of refugee and migrant children and youth, and how to avoid repeating mistakes that had led to disparities, underperformance, ghettoization, and marginalization of newcomers in the past.
Education integration of migrant children and youth is an essential means for ensuring life continuity, job prospects, social integration, peer relationships, self esteem. However, migrant children more often and more clearly than domicile children face the “flip side” of education systems and can get caught by problems that others do not encounter. Much of the literature addressing education of immigrant or refugee children lists various sets of barriers, problems, and bottlenecks that are hindering education integration and negatively affecting the educational attainment and achievement of these children and youth. The paper discusses in detail access to education related problems such as lack of placement capacities of schools in vicinity or missing certificates of students; attendance related problems such as lacking support for school materials or food; barriers related to attainment and achievement such as segregation or low expectation of teachers; as well as barriers that strip students of various progression opportunities and limit the possibility of decent future employment.
Building on experiences of the network of Open Society National Foundations, on an overview of policies and actions of countries that have experiences in integrating refugee and migrant children and youth in educations as well as on research literature, the paper provides suggestions for successful solutions in policy and practice of integration of migrant students in education as well as illustrations of these suggestions. The paper discusses in greater detail ways of organizing early education and care for migrant children, language instruction, avoiding segregation and ghettoization, involving teachers of migrant origin, expanding access to higher level and non-compulsory education, providing best choice curricula. It also discusses the need for parental involvement, possibilities of mentoring and organizing clubs and centers for extracurricular activities, psychosocial support and social integration opportunities. The paper also recommends the use of best practices in Roma integration as well as in civic education, intercultural education and conflict resolution for supporting the successful integration of migrant students in education.
... Ethnic competition research often examines how competition for resources such as jobs and housing creates tensions and negative perceptions of migrants (Blumer 1958;Evans 1989;Olzak 1992). In contrast, intergroup contact theory highlights how positive interactions -under conditions of equal status, shared goals and institutional support -can mitigate these tensions (Allport 1954;Pettigrew and Tropp 2006). ...
Politics and Philosophy, Manchester Metropolitan university, Manchester, uK; b department of Political Science and international relations, Bahçeşehir university, istanbul, Turkey; c department of educational research, lancaster university, lancaster, uK; d department of Political Science and international relations, istanbul university, istanbul, Turkey; e department of Sociology, istanbul Ticaret university, istanbul, Turkey ABSTRACT The ongoing influx of refugees and undocumented migrants has cat-alysed a more profound discourse on discrimination, stigmatisation, and social exclusion. Existing scholarship often delineates these challenges , yet it frequently characterises refugees as passive victims rather than active agents in shaping their own lives. This paper seeks to bridge this conceptual void through the lens of epistemic erasure-the systemic devaluation and exclusion of refugees' knowledge, narratives and professional identities-within host communities. Drawing on interviews from Syrian, Afghan and African refugees in Istanbul, we examine how these groups cultivate collective capabilities to subvert epistemic injustice and reclaim their agency and showcase how refugees foster collective strategies to safeguard their cultural heritage, preserve their skills and credentials and sustain their livelihoods. However, these collective capabilities, while essential for resilience and resistance, create a complex paradox: when confined to marginalised social and institutional spaces, there is a risk that they may inadvertently reinforce the very exclusions they seek to dismantle. By recognising these intricacies, we highlight the importance of fostering environments that validate the contributions of refugees and migrants, empowering them to redefine their identities and, reinforce their agency in the face of adversity.
... Dabei wurden Leistungsorientierung, Recht und Ordnung sowie Gewinnstreben den materialistischen Werten (Inglehart 1997: S. 70-71) bzw. den Pflichtund Akzeptanzwerten (Klages 1985, S. 18) (Allport 1954;Allport und Ross 1967;Pettigrew 1998;Pettigrew und Tropp 2006) Bei den genannten Kontrollvariablen sind auch Bezüge zu Religion bzw. Religiosität denkbar. ...
Zusammenfassung
Religiöse Personen sind Frauen und queeren Menschen gegenüber voreingenommener als nicht-religiöse. Diese Erkenntnis ist nicht neu, und sie zeigt sich auch anhand der Daten der Studie „Kirchenmitgliedschaft und politische Kultur“ der Evangelischen Kirche in Deutschland. Dieser Beitrag beleuchtet die Zusammenhänge zwischen Religiosität, Sexismus, (Anti-)Feminismus und Queerfeindlichkeit auf Grundlage der genannten Daten genauer. Dabei zeigt sich, dass religiöse Faktoren für die Erklärung von Antifeminismus, Sexismus und die Akzeptanz queerer Personen tatsächlich eine große Rolle spielen – nicht jedoch für Feminismus. Zudem sind erhebliche Unterschiede in den Effekten von Religiosität, der Zugehörigkeit zur katholischen oder evangelischen Kirche bzw. einer muslimischen Glaubensgemeinschaft und von religiösem Fundamentalismus feststellbar. Während von Fundamentalismus ein starker und von der Mitgliedschaft in einer der großen christlichen Kirchen bzw. der Zugehörigkeit zu einer muslimischen Religionsgemeinschaft ein schwacher vorurteilssteigernder Effekt ausgeht, scheint Religiosität an sich abwertende Einstellungen gegenüber Frauen und LGBTIQ+ eher zu senken. Neben religiösen werden in den Analysen auch politische, sozialpsychologische und soziodemographische Einflussfaktoren berücksichtigt.
... Previous studies have shown that while Afghan youth have experienced upward mobility in terms of education and occupation compared to the previous generations and their counterparts in Afghanistan, they are nevertheless less advantaged than their Iranian counterparts (Abbasi-Shavazi et al., 2008Hugo et al., 2012;Keshavarzi et al., 2024). Thus, in Allport's (1955) terms, the two groups in question possess unequal status, emphasizing the significance of positive intergroup encounters. Facilitated through acts of everyday benevolence and kindness, positive intergroup encounters between Iranians and Afghan immigrants could play a crucial role in enhancing social cohesion. ...
In this paper, we consider how aspirations for “who I can be” in the future could shape support for prosocial actions that benefit an ethnic out-group, relative to their own group. We suggest that aspirations are, in turn, influenced by individuals’ group memberships, which vary in their degrees of collective agency. The hypotheses were tested using data collected from Afghan youth immigrants (N = 392) and Iranian youth (N = 672), representing a relatively understudied immigrant–host context. We explored the drivers of both in-group and intergroup prosocial behaviors, and how they differed in these unique social settings. The findings indicated that in-group identification was linked to in-group but not out-group prosocial behaviors. In addition, in-group identification was associated with three components of aspirations: personal, influence, and relational. Moreover, only the relational aspiration was associated with in-group prosocial behaviors while the influence aspiration was linked to out-group prosocial behaviors. Furthermore, the study revealed that the relationships between in-group identity and all components of aspirations were fully mediated by perceived collective agency among Iranian youth, but partially among Afghan immigrants, suggesting distinct effects for disadvantaged group members. The research highlights how identities shape aspirations and behaviors for a better world.
... Lederach emphasizes the importance of religious leaders in reconciliation (Lederach, 1997). Allport's "contact hypothesis" supports direct interaction between groups to reduce prejudice and promote tolerance (Allport, 1954). Thus, interfaith dialogue can resolve social conflicts and strengthen religious solidarity. ...
Indonesia's rich cultural and religious diversity is undermined by persistent intolerance that threatens social harmony. This study argues that confronting this issue necessitates a critical re-examination of sacred teachings in Islam and Christianity, specifically the Hadith and the Gospel, which fundamentally promote peace and tolerance. Through a comparative analysis employing a qualitative hermeneutic approach, the research scrutinizes selected texts from both scriptures, contextualizing them to extract principles that advocate for coexistence. Drawing from authoritative commentaries, scholarly works, and relevant case studies, this study demonstrates that both the Hadith and the Gospel unequivocally emphasize universal values of love, justice, and respect for human dignity. The Hadith's concept of rahmatan lil 'alamin (mercy for all creations) and the Gospel's command to "love your neighbour as yourself" are not just theological ideals but actionable solutions to counteract intolerance. It contends that leveraging these shared values through interreligious dialogue is imperative for reducing intolerance in Indonesia. Proactive promotion of these principles via education and community initiatives is essential to actualize harmony within Indonesia's diverse society.
... These issues highlight the complex and sometimes contentious relationship between cultural diversity and crime. When cultural differences are not managed well or are exploited for political or social gain, they can lead to increased instances of xenophobia and ethnic conflicts (Allport, 1954). This underscores the need for robust policies and initiatives aimed at fostering intercultural dialogue and integration to mitigate potential conflicts and promote harmonious coexistence (Putnam, 2007). ...
... In rural areas, limited diversity and stronger adherence to traditional norms may contribute to maintaining biases. These results support the contact hypothesis (Allport, 1954), which suggests that increased interaction with diverse groups reduces prejudice. ...
Prejudice is a widespread problem that fuels social inequality, discrimination, and conflict, especially in culturally diverse regions like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. This study explores how emotional intelligence (EI) and empathy can help reduce prejudice among urban and rural populations in KP. EI, which involves recognizing and managing one’s emotions, and empathy, the ability to understand and share the feelings of others, are essential psychological tools in combating biases and promoting social harmony. The study gathered data from 300 participants, split equally between urban and rural areas, using reliable scales to measure EI, empathy, and prejudice. The findings revealed that higher levels of both EI and empathy were strongly linked to lower levels of prejudice. Urban participants showed higher emotional intelligence and empathy than those from rural areas. Empathy, in particular, was found to play a key role in mediating the relationship between EI and prejudice, emphasizing its importance in promoting inclusivity. These results highlight the need for targeted interventions aimed at boosting emotional intelligence and empathy, particularly in rural areas, to reduce prejudice. The study adds to our understanding of how psychological factors can bridge social divides and foster greater harmony in diverse communities.
... Ageism consists of both stereotyping and discriminating against people because they are old (Butler, 1969). Social psychologists suggest ageism, like other "isms," has three basic components: cognitive, affective, and behavioral (Allport, 1954;Bal et al., 2011;Cuddy & Fiske, 2002;Iversen et al., 2009;B. R. Levy & Banaji, 2002). ...
... Intergroup contact is defined as the encounters that occur between individuals from diverse sociodemographic groups [95], for example, in relation to ethnicity, religion, and social status [96][97][98]. However, the application of intergroup contact goes beyond these elements. ...
A policy of integrating China’s intangible cultural heritage into its tourism industry has been proposed by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Intangible cultural heritage assets offer unique opportunities in tourism development, yet during the integration process, residents’ perspectives are often overlooked. From the perspective of social exchange, this study examines the relationships among residents’ perceptions of, and their behaviors toward, local intangible cultural heritage and tourism. Survey data were collected from residents (N = 440) in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, China. This study showed that residents’ positive perceptions of tourism impacts have a significant effect on residents’ supportive behaviors. Residents’ place attachment indirectly influences their behaviors. The results suggest that intergroup contact strengthens the relationship between residents’ perceptions of the positive impacts of tourism and behavior but weakens the relationship between place attachment and behavior. The findings provide a theoretical basis for exploring intangible cultural heritage tourism from the perspectives of residents, as well as offering insights for local authorities to use to reduce the negative impacts of tourism on residents and balance tourism development with residents’ normal life.
Throughout history, women have been victimized by sexual violence. Yet the vast proportion of this violence has been shrouded in invisibility, and women have habitually been denied social recognition for the crimes committed against them. This chapter explores the emergent idea that gender-based violence should be addressed as a form of hate crime, elucidating the conceptual link between sexual violence and hate crime. Namely, it engages in a conceptual investigation of ‘hate’ as a terrorizing aspect of sexual violence against women. Inspired by Sternberg’s (2008) notion of ‘hate as a story’, the chapter argues that hate crime conceptualization is especially appropriate for women widely considered non-ideal victims’ engulfed by recurring ‘stories of complicity’ that brand them culpable for their own victimization. Conversely, a universal recognition of all sexual violence against women as ‘hate crime’, even if conceptually sound, is unlikely to be implementable through hate crime law.
HIV/AIDS knowledge and empathy serve as key cognitive and emotional antecedents of stigma toward PLWHA. However, the relationship between HIV/AIDS knowledge and stigma varies across different social contexts. This study examines the roles of HIV/AIDS knowledge and empathy in shaping stigma toward PLWHA within the Indonesian sociocultural context. A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted with 410 undergraduate students from a university in Surabaya, Indonesia. Data were collected using the Stigmatizing Attitude Toward People Living With HIV/AIDS (SAT-PLWHA) Scale, the HIV Knowledge Questionnaire (HIV-KQ-18), and the Toronto Empathy Scale. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to test the hypotheses. The findings indicate that both HIV/AIDS knowledge and empathy significantly influence stigma toward PLWHA [ F (2,407) = 37.91; p < .001]. Specifically, higher HIV/AIDS knowledge was positively associated with increased stigma ( β = .22, p < .001), whereas higher empathy was negatively associated with stigma ( β = -0.24, p < .001). These findings highlight the impact of HIV/AIDS knowledge and empathy on stigma toward PLWHA within Indonesia’s sociocultural context. Religion influences the relationship between knowledge and stigma through psychological mechanisms such as cognitive dissonance, belief perseverance, and fear/anxiety. This study offers insights for researchers and practitioners seeking to develop effective interventions aimed at reducing stigma, particularly in culturally sensitive contexts such as Indonesia, while engaging religious leaders in reinterpreting religious beliefs to foster understanding, empathy, and a more inclusive perspective toward PLWHA.
The centrality of disruption as a graced moment of awakening social imagination to a new dawn where human flourishing becomes a possibility ought to be the focus of the church’s praxes of sacramental rituals. In fact, Christianity is itself a religion of disruption. The God–human reality that manifests itself in Jesus Christ is itself a graced disruption. God chooses to disrupt the familiar world of fallenness and thus offers God-self as a mediating gift that reorients creation to a new way of being that transcends the familiar orientation towards sin. Disruption, as an existential phenomenon, is not alien to the human condition. In fact, all aspects of human life are saturated with disruption. In fact, grace is itself God’s disruptive intervention in human history. Since creation embodies the goodness of God, creation can be said to be a sacramental symbol of disruption. In a social world where racism and other structures of marginality operate, victims of such marginalities embody in their existence the disruptive grace that can transform such a society. Black bodies are loci for encountering the disruptive grace intended to end the vice of racism. They also serve as the loci for the church to imagine a new way of being a sacrament of disruption in the world because of their existential proximity to the historical realities defining the life of Jesus Christ as a victim of the hegemony of empire. This work shows how black bodies can help foster a new imagination of the human in our contemporary world where systems of marginalization continue to shape human life in general. It attempts to address the following question: how can one conceive of black bodies in a world defined by systems of erasure that directly affect black persons and their embodied agencies? To do this effectively, this work appropriates a constructive theological approach that grounds itself in an interdisciplinary discourse with the intent to argue that to speak of the human person is to instantiate a polyphony of insights: insights that appeal to an ethical consciousness that is defined by altruism.
Com o desenvolvimento da Política de expansão e interiorização da Educação Superior, teve acesso um grupo historicamente excluído de estudantes negros, pardos, quilombolas, indígenas aldeados, pobres e estudantes com deficiência, trazendo novos desafios à docência. Considerando este contexto e a herança colonial e elitista que modelou à docência da Educação Superior, temos como objetivo deste artigo analisar as concepções e desenvolvimento dos saberes docentes para o enfrentamento dos estigmas e preconceitos neste nível de ensino. Metodologicamente realizamos um ensaio teórico de natureza qualitativa, reflexiva e interpretativa, dividida em duas categorias de análise: desenvolvimento dos saberes docentes e saberes docentes nas tendências filosófico-políticas da educação. A análise teórica indica pista para o enfrentamento dos estigmas e preconceitos na Educação Superior: necessidade de construção de saberes profissionais mediados por uma formação continuada e colaborativa, com reflexão sobre a própria prática e a educação tradicional na qual fomos formados, desenvolvendo os saberes disciplinares para além dos conteúdos em um currículo que articule a ciência aos problemas reais do contexto, descortinando os apagamentos históricos e epistemológicos que silenciaram grupos e culturas. No desenvolvimento dos saberes experienciais, é necessário aprofundar a conexão de cada docente com a sua história, facilitando o acolhimento de si mesmo e a possibilidade de rever crenças que inferiorizam o outro, assumindo envolver-se na construção de práticas libertadoras.
: Regardless of how social and medical developments shift the level of tolerance towards diverse personality expressions related to gender identity, we pay little attention to transgender issues in Slovakia, there is a lack of appropriate legislation reflecting the psychological and medical side of the problem. The topic is politicized and does not reflect the conclusions of the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights, which offers us relatively clear references. In addition, it is evidence of the evolution of the interpretation of the Convention on the Protection of Human Rights, which, in matters of gender identity as a component of the right to privacy, reflects that it is truly a living instrument, balancing the rights of the individual, scientific development and the margin of appreciation of states, which is limited.
Peace is commonly viewed in social theory as a necessary task for the state. But is there a pathway to promote peace without undue reliance upon vulnerable, if not failure-prone, state-centric law and order mechanisms? This paper responds in the affirmative by presenting a framework of “polycentric peace.” Inspired by the works of Elinor and Vincent Ostrom, polycentric peace identifies the indispensable and often everyday roles of individuals and non-state groups in resolving conflicts and creating pathways for peaceful relationships. The promotion of peace through settings as diverse as civic associations and markets will be highlighted. Emphasizing human interactivity as instrumental to realizing peaceful outcomes, polycentric peace underlines the discovery of and learning about peacebuilding processes relevant to circumstances of time, place, and context. Polycentric interpretations of peace processes can be a viable alternative to centralized, state-sponsored efforts to facilitate peace.
This study investigates the targeting of migrants using exclusionary rhetoric, analyzing how political instability, economic crises, or international conflicts, unemployment, economic structures, and social events influence this rhetoric. We use World Values Survey (WVS) data to explore the relationships between neoliberal globalization, populism, anti-immigrant sentiments, and agitation strategies in the USA and Germany. The study examines how agitation tools like far-right parties, media dynamics, and elements such as economic grievances, security concerns, cultural reactions, and racial threat perceptions. The aim is to unravel the complexity of factors contributing to anti-immigrant sentiments, highlighting how agitation elements intensify these sentiments, fueling populist policies and reshaping political landscapes in both countries. Additionally, the research emphasizes nuanced distinctions in countries with neoliberal globalization like in the USA and those with a welfare state tradition like in the Germany. The findings suggest that neoliberal policies, by exacerbating economic instability and social insecurity, create fertile ground for the rise of populist, anti-immigrant narratives. Addressing these structural drivers requires inclusive economic reforms, stronger social protections, and proactive policy interventions to counteract exclusionary rhetoric and mitigate rising xenophobia.
Homophily—or, the preference for similar others—has been well documented through empirical evidence. However, upon further investigation, certain applications of homophily in the workplace may give some pause for thought. For instance, more research is needed to examine the boundary conditions of homophily within work teams, such as individual characteristics and contextual factors. Accordingly, the current study reexamined the finding that homophily predicts human relationships, by looking at the relation between deep-level diversity and (a) social relationships, (b) task-relevant relationships, and (c) team performance. Results from a laboratory study with 139 teams (417 participants) indicated that (1) deep-level diversity drives positive, task-relevant relationships, (2) deep-level similarity drives negative, task-relevant relationships, and (3) deep-level diversity marginally predicts team task performance. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Consumers are influenced by a myriad of factors in their choices of brands which can be categorised differently. The impact of psychological and personal influences which comprise of factors like perception, motivation, learning and memory, and attitudes on brand consumption is considerable. This chapter features a meticulous discussion of these issues and their implications on brand consumption and branding strategies. These are underpinned by themes such as brand positioning/repositioning, the extended realities, webrooming, and showrooming and how they explain consumer day-to-day brand decisions. The understanding of consumer learning and memory are usually linked to brand awareness, brand association, brand recognition, brand recall, brand relearning and brand associative networks. These are carefully examined in this chapter. Moreover, the issues around the underpinning factors that motivate consumer brand choices, their attitude formation and change for brands are also examined with a robust discussion of their implication for strategic brand management.
Given the current polarized climate in many parts of the world, finding effective interventions to address psychological factors that drive conflict is critical. Direct, face-to-face contact has the demonstrated potential to stem the tide of intergroup antipathy. However, modern socio-political conflicts often span great physical distances, making direct contact difficult, costly and rare. Programs for “virtual contact” have emerged in recent years, combining text-based computer-mediated communication with live video to extend intergroup contact’s benefits to broader audiences. While compelling, studies of such programs are typically conducted in laboratory settings, focusing only on change in outgroup attitudes. The current research tests how a semester-long virtual contact intervention that brings together non-Muslim US American students and Muslim students from the Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia shapes varied intergroup processes, across two large-scale field quasi-experiments (combined N = 2886). Compared to before the intervention and a control group, participants who engaged in virtual contact showed greater self-outgroup overlap, improved outgroup attitudes, and less outgroup dehumanization and meta-dehumanization. This research provides evidence that virtual contact can be an effective tool for promoting better intergroup relations.
Why does religion continue to emerge as a flashpoint in the age of secularization? Although models of religious resurgence suggest that religious cleavages are more prominent in the modern era, other models continue to show declining religious involvement. What is needed is a theory that can observe both resurgence and secularization at the same time. I argue that globalization—and the flow of people across borders, in particular—provokes a religious backlash at the societal level due to its secularizing effects. As the public is exposed to new and diverse religious traditions, religiosity declines; as a result, however, religious practitioners become more aggressive toward other religious groups. I test this theory using data on globalization, religious discrimination, and religious practice. I find that types of globalization dealing with the flow of people and information across borders have an outsize effect on societal religious discrimination, or SRD. This effect, however, is contingent on a decline in religious practice. This study suggests that religious resurgence can take place in secularizing environments, and that both resurgence and secularization share root causes.
In the second half of the lastcentury, representatives of disabled communities took steps with the objective of social inclusion and promotinganti-discriminatory solutions. Along with this activity came efforts to tackle the issues of disability in the academic discourse and public debate. In retrospect, the question of the effectiveness of these activities remains reasonable. In this context, the article is an attempt to indicate the scale of the sense of belonging to groups discriminated against among people with disabilities in Poland. In pursuing this objective, anattempt was made to answer three questions, (1) how the percentage of people with disabilities declaring belonging to discriminated groups has changed over the years; (2) what part of them indicated discrimination due to disability, and (3) whether disability (subjected to the control of the influence of other variables) was a significant predictor of the sense of discrimination. The analysis was carried out with data collected in nine cycles of surveys conducted between 2002 and 2018 as part of the European Social Survey.
Recently, quantitative cross-national research has begun tracing the contours of cultural racism using items on people’s belief in cultural superiority. This article bridges research on cultural racism with studies on intergroup contact—a widely-researched antidote to xenophobia—to examine how both interact to influence anti-Muslim attitudes in Europe. Using independent data sources (European Social Survey and Pew data), two studies test the hypothesis that cultural racism hinders the xenophobia-alleviating effect of contact. Results show that for the most widespread forms of anti-Muslim sentiment, rejection of Islam and of Muslim family members, cultural racism and contact work independently of one other. However, for the rejection of potential Muslim immigrants, the contact effect is often significantly diminished for those who hold culturally racist views. On the other hand, interactive effects show that the culturally racist group may benefit more from contact when it comes to accepting Muslim neighbors.
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