TY - JOUR
T1 - Additive and multiplicative effects of different forms of positive and negative indirect intergroup contact in predicting intergroup attitudes
AU - Stark, Tobias H.
AU - Nijs, Tom
AU - Köbrich, Julia
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Authors
PY - 2025/1
Y1 - 2025/1
N2 - Numerous studies found that different forms of positive indirect intergroup contact relate to people's intergroup attitudes. Much less work has explored whether negative forms of indirect contact predict intergroup attitudes and even less evidence exists on the co-occurrence of direct and indirect forms of intergroup contact and, thus, the expected joint impact of a combination of interventions. We explore the additive effects of four types of indirect contact in predicting intergroup attitudes: extended contact, vicarious contact, mass-mediated contact, and virtual vicarious contact through social media. We also explore whether the effects of indirect contact are stronger when people have less direct contact. For each type, we measure positive and negative contact experiences. Data come from two studies (N1 = 785; N2 = 858) asking native Dutch respondents about indirect contact experiences with members of immigrant communities. We find that observing positive intergroup interactions in real life, on mass media, and, to a weaker extent, on social media has additive positive associations with intergroup attitudes. Positive extended contact has only an added effect in Study 1. Of the negative indirect forms of contact, only negative vicarious contact predicts outgroup attitudes. No consistent multiplicative effects appeared across the studies, suggesting that indirect contact effects are not stronger for those with less direct contact. We conclude that observing contact (vicarious contact) may be more impactful than merely knowing of it (extended contact).
AB - Numerous studies found that different forms of positive indirect intergroup contact relate to people's intergroup attitudes. Much less work has explored whether negative forms of indirect contact predict intergroup attitudes and even less evidence exists on the co-occurrence of direct and indirect forms of intergroup contact and, thus, the expected joint impact of a combination of interventions. We explore the additive effects of four types of indirect contact in predicting intergroup attitudes: extended contact, vicarious contact, mass-mediated contact, and virtual vicarious contact through social media. We also explore whether the effects of indirect contact are stronger when people have less direct contact. For each type, we measure positive and negative contact experiences. Data come from two studies (N1 = 785; N2 = 858) asking native Dutch respondents about indirect contact experiences with members of immigrant communities. We find that observing positive intergroup interactions in real life, on mass media, and, to a weaker extent, on social media has additive positive associations with intergroup attitudes. Positive extended contact has only an added effect in Study 1. Of the negative indirect forms of contact, only negative vicarious contact predicts outgroup attitudes. No consistent multiplicative effects appeared across the studies, suggesting that indirect contact effects are not stronger for those with less direct contact. We conclude that observing contact (vicarious contact) may be more impactful than merely knowing of it (extended contact).
KW - Extended contact
KW - Indirect contact
KW - Negative contact
KW - Prejudice
KW - Vicarious contact
KW - Virtual vicarious contact
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85210532947&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ijintrel.2024.102110
DO - 10.1016/j.ijintrel.2024.102110
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85210532947
SN - 0147-1767
VL - 104
JO - International Journal of Intercultural Relations
JF - International Journal of Intercultural Relations
M1 - 102110
ER -