Generalizing positive intergroup relations in realistic settings

A study is presented comparing the effects of Common Ingroup Identity, Decategorization and Dual Identity models on reducing intergroup bias and on generalizing the more positive intergroup evaluations to other outgroup members in two contexts (school and neighborhood). Factorial design was a 4 (condition: control, recategorization, decategorization and dual identity) x 2 (ethnic group status: Portuguese and Afro-Portuguese) x 3 (context: contact, school and neighborhood) between and within-participant design. Participants were, 80 3-children groups, aged 9-10 years old and of two ethnic groups. Results showed that the three models were effective in reducing prejudice and generalizing positive contact to other outgroup members. Furthermore, recategorization was more efficient to reduce intergroup bias in low status children, whereas dual identity was the more adequate cognitive representation to reduce intergroup bias in high status ones.

Descriptors: Ethnic group / Groups / Social relations