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Secondary transfer effects of intergroup contact: Alternative accounts and underlying processes.
- Source :
-
Journal of personality and social psychology [J Pers Soc Psychol] 2010 Aug; Vol. 99 (2), pp. 282-302. - Publication Year :
- 2010
-
Abstract
- Although intergroup contact is one of the most prominent interventions to reduce prejudice, the generalization of contact effects is still a contentious issue. This research further examined the rarely studied secondary transfer effect (STE; Pettigrew, 2009), by which contact with a primary outgroup reduces prejudice toward secondary groups that are not directly involved in the contact. Across 3 cross-sectional studies conducted in Cyprus (N = 1,653), Northern Ireland (N = 1,973), and Texas (N = 275) and 1 longitudinal study conducted in Northern Ireland (N = 411), the present research sought to systematically rule out alternative accounts of the STE and to investigate 2 potential mediating mechanisms (ingroup reappraisal and attitude generalization). Results indicated that, consistent with the STE, contact with a primary outgroup predicts attitudes toward secondary outgroups, over and above contact with the secondary outgroup, socially desirable responding, and prior attitudes. Mediation analyses found strong evidence for attitude generalization but only limited evidence for ingroup reappraisal as an underlying process. Two out of 3 tests of a reverse model, where contact with the secondary outgroup predicts attitudes toward the primary outgroup, provide further evidence for an indirect effect through attitude generalization. Theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed, and directions for future research are identified.
- Subjects :
- Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Cross-Sectional Studies
Cyprus
Female
Generalization, Psychological physiology
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Middle Aged
Northern Ireland
Self Concept
Social Desirability
Social Identification
Stereotyping
Texas
Young Adult
Attitude
Group Processes
Interpersonal Relations
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1939-1315
- Volume :
- 99
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of personality and social psychology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 20658844
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1037/a0018553