Dynamic contact effects: Individuals' positive and negative contact history influences intergroup contact effects in a behavioral game
Schäfer, Sarina J; Simsek, Müge; Jaspers, Eva; Kros, Mathijs; Hewstone, Miles; Schmid, Katharina; Fell, Benjamin F; Dorrough, Angela R; Glöckner, Andreas; Christ, Oliver
(2022) Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, volume 123, issue 1, pp. 107 - 122
(Article)
Abstract
Positive contact between members of different groups reduces prejudice and increases cooperation, findings known as intergroup contact effects. Yet in real-world settings not only positive, but also negative intergroup contact occurs, which have opposing effects. To date little is known about whether and how an individual’s valenced history of intergroup
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contact influences contact effects and how this dynamic change happens during specific instances of intergroup contact. A pilot study examined the psychological impact of a novel paradigm to assess intergroup contact using a behavioral game. We then conducted two studies, which allowed us to observe a sequence of up to 23 in and outgroup interactions and their behavioral outcomes in a continuous prisoner’s dilemma behavioral game (N = 116, 2,668 interactions; N = 89, 1,513 interactions). As expected, participants showed a clear ingroup bias in expectations and cooperation. Furthermore, the quality of contact history moderated contact effects. Specifically, intergroup contact following a positive history of intergroup contact had a stronger effect on intergroup expectations than contact following a negative history thereof. Findings are discussed in view of the importance of considering the valenced history of intergroup contact, as well as new research questions on intergroup contact that can be addressed with this novel contact paradigm.
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Keywords: Intergroup contact, Intergroup interactions, Negative contact, Taverne, Social Psychology, Sociology and Political Science
ISSN: 0022-3514
Publisher: American Psychological Association
Note: Funding Information: This research was supported by a joint ORA Grant to Oliver Christ (DFG, Grant 278649612), Miles Hewstone (ESRC, Grant ES/N018893/1), and Eva Jaspers (NWO, Grant 464-15-265). The authors thank Kathrin Wolff and Kathrin Budel for their help with the data collection. The results of this article were reported at the SASP-SPSSI Group Meeting on Intergroup Contact in Newcastle, Australia, April, 29, 2019 to May 1, 2019. Both studies were registered. Publisher Copyright: © 2021. American Psychological Association
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