Positive intergroup contact decreases the likelihood that prejudicial attitudes become avoidant behavioral tendencies

Bagci S. C., TÜRNÜKLÜ A., Tercan M.

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, cilt.50, sa.3, ss.597-613, 2020 (SSCI) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 50 Sayı: 3
  • Basım Tarihi: 2020
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1002/ejsp.2646
  • Dergi Adı: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, ASSIA, IBZ Online, International Bibliography of Social Sciences, PASCAL, ATLA Religion Database, CINAHL, Educational research abstracts (ERA), MLA - Modern Language Association Database, Psycinfo, Public Affairs Index, Social services abstracts, Sociological abstracts
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.597-613
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: approach, avoidance tendencies, behavioral intention, intergroup contact, prejudice, social distance, CROSS-GROUP FRIENDSHIPS, OUTGROUP ATTITUDES, EXTENDED CONTACT, ETHNIC FRIENDSHIPS, NEGATIVE CONTACT, REDUCE PREJUDICE, SOCIAL DISTANCE, MEDIATING ROLE, CONFLICT, IDENTIFICATION
  • Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

We investigated whether existing intergroup contact experiences moderated the associations between prejudicial attitudes and behavioral tendencies towards outgroups across five studies in Turkey (total N = 1,281). Findings showed that among Turks who reported higher levels of cross-group friendship quantity (Study 1) and greater positive (but not negative) contact (Study 2) with Kurds, prejudicial attitudes did not predict negative outgroup behavioral tendencies. Confirming these studies, Study 3 indicated that the association between homophobic attitudes and outgroup avoidance/approach tendencies was weaker among individuals who reported more LGBTI friends. Study 4 replicated the latter finding among children using Syrians as the target outgroup. Study 5 further showed that the buffering role of intergroup contact occurred only among participants who held less certain attitudes towards Syrian refugees. Findings provide insights into how existing contact experiences shape the relationship between negative attitudes towards outgroups and relevant behavioral intentions.