Intergroup Contact and Prejudice Reduction Strategies

Intergroup contact theorises that structured interactions between members of different social groups can reduce prejudice and foster positive relations. Originating with Allport’s contact hypothesis, key conditions for effective contact include equal status, common goals, cooperation and institutional support. Over the past decades, research has extended beyond face-to-face encounters to include indirect forms of contact—such as extended contact (learning about friends’ cross-group friendships), imagined contact (mental rehearsal of positive interactions) and parasocial contact (exposure to out-group members through media). Mechanisms underpinning these effects encompass reducing intergroup anxiety, challenging stereotypes through individuating information, and promoting empathy via perspective-taking. Contemporary strategies also integrate cognitive interventions that encourage novel category combinations and narrative exchanges to generalise tolerance across multiple out-groups. Applications range from school-based programmes and workplace diversity training to community peacebuilding initiatives in post-conflict settings. Evidence highlights that individual differences—such as social dominance orientation—and contextual factors—such as neighbourhood composition—moderate the efficacy of contact. A holistic understanding of these dynamics underpins the design of scalable, culturally sensitive interventions with global relevance for reducing bias, reinforcing social cohesion and informing policy in plural societies.

Research from Nature Portfolio

No recent Nature Portfolio content available.

Intergroup Contact and Prejudice Reduction Strategies publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in intergroup contact and prejudice reduction strategies across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Intergroup contact: Structured interaction between members of different social groups designed to reduce prejudice.

Contact hypothesis: Theory proposing that under optimal conditions, intergroup contact reduces bias.

Extended contact: Reduction of prejudice achieved by knowing that an in-group friend has positive relationships with out-group members.

Parasocial contact: Indirect contact through media exposure to out-group individuals that mimics personal interaction.

Intergroup anxiety: Discomfort experienced when anticipating or engaging in contact with out-group members, often impeding positive outcomes.

References

1. Seeking and avoiding intergroup contact: Future frontiers of research on building social integration. Social and Personality Psychology Compass (2018).
2. Development of prejudice against immigrants and ethnic minorities in adolescence: A systematic review with meta-analysis of longitudinal studies. Developmental Review (2021).
3. Can Exposure to Celebrities Reduce Prejudice? The Effect of Mohamed Salah on Islamophobic Behaviors and Attitudes. American Political Science Review (2021).
4. The role of individual differences in understanding and enhancing intergroup contact. Social and Personality Psychology Compass (2020).
5. Intergroup Contact and Peacebuilding: Promoting Youth Civic Engagement in Northern Ireland. Journal of Social and Political Psychology (2017).
6. Tolerance by Surprise: Evidence for a Generalized Reduction in Prejudice and Increased Egalitarianism through Novel Category Combination. PLOS ONE (2013).
7. The Wallpaper Effect: The Contact Hypothesis Fails for Minority Group Members Who Live in Areas with a High Proportion of Majority Group Members. PLOS ONE (2013).