Using Intergroup Contact to Fight Prejudice and Negative Attitudes

Loris Vezzali is Full Professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy.Sofia Stathi is Associate Professor of Social Psychology and Director of the Centre for Inequalities at the University of Greenwich, UK.

"This important and wide-ranging book illustrates the enduring value of intergroup contact for reducing prejudice, ranging from face-to-face contact to ‘contact’ via the media. But it also applies the theory and research to new domains – such as promoting better intergroup relations among survivors of natural disasters – and sets out an exciting blueprint for how to apply this approach more effectively in interventions, especially in schools." - Miles Hewstone, Emeritus Professor, University of Oxford, UK"More than a thousand studies and multiple meta-analyses have solidly established intergroup contact theory. Now social psychology needs a fresh review of this vast literature, suggestions for new directions and better means for applying the theory to "the real world." Vezzali and Stathi meet all three of these needs handsomely in this book." - Thomas Pettigrew, Professor Emeritus, University of California, Santa Cruz, US"This volume, which is co-authored by two internationally recognized scholars and leaders in the study of intergroup contact, offers not only a comprehensive review of the relevant literature but also an insightful analysis and integration of the extensive work on this topic. The volume is logically organized, comprehensive in its scope, grounded solidly in relevant theory, sensitive to issues of practical implementation and constraints, and enlightening in how it identifies novel and important directions for future research. It is a “go-to” resource for anyone wanting to learn more about how to improve intergroup relations through intergroup contact and an authoritative resource for students and researchers already invested in this topic. Drawing to a substantial degree on their own important and innovative research, the authors highlight how indirect forms of contact, such as learning about or observing others’ intergroup interactions, such as through the media, can play a profound role in combatting bias and creating stable, positive, and productive relations between groups. The book is timely, socially and theoretically. It is also forward-looking and innovative; the authors have set a promising agenda for both research and practice in this area for many years to come." - John Dovidio, Professor, Yale University, US

• Preface1. Maximizing the effects of intergroup contact: Structuring the contact setting2. Extended intergroup contact: the need to identify practical strategies in order to produce new theory3. Vicarious intergroup contact and media vicarious contact: Theoretical, methodological and practical distinctions 4. Imagined intergroup contact and its real potential: Applying interventions in the field5. Fighting indirect forms of prejudice: The role of direct and indirect contact in reducing implicit prejudice and fostering outgroup humanity attribution6. The secondary transfer effect: Two routes for tackling contextual and generalized prejudice7. Creating a bridge between intergroup contact and collective action research: A model on how contact can foster collective action among high- and low-status groups8. Promoting positive intergroup relations among survivors of natural disastersConclusionReferences