Broadening the Lens of Intergroup Contact Theory and Research: Examining Contact Processes and Outcomes in Contexts of Social Division

Talk abstract:

Based on 75 years of scholarship, intergroup contact has long been recognized as one of the most promising pathways to reduce prejudice and improve relations between groups. Yet for most of its history, the contact research literature focused principally on how interactions across group lines could help to reduce the prejudices of advantaged groups toward disadvantaged and minoritized groups, and within relatively stable contexts of social relations. In recent decades, interest has grown—among researchers and practitioners alike—in understanding how contact functions in contexts of social division, where group status positions are contested and where contact strategies are often used to ease intergroup tensions, foster social cohesion, and build prospects for reconciliation in the face of civil conflicts. In this talk, Tropp will present research examples that reflect these trends, along with field studies from a range of societal contexts, to provide a broader lens on the relevance and applicability of intergroup contact theory and research in divided societies.