Multiple categories: effects of category salience on generalization of positive intergroup contact

Abstract

Although the distinction has not generally been recognized, Allport's contact hypothesis is actually two separate hypotheses. The specific attitude change hypothesis suggests that pleasant intergroup contact ameliorates attitudes toward the specific group member(s) interacted with. The general attitude change hypothesis is that positive attitudes toward the specific group member(s) generalizes to more positive attitudes toward the group. The present study addressed the second part of the contact hypothesis and assessed the impact of the target person belonging to more than one social category. Students participated in a vicarious structured cooperative learning session, in which they believed that their partner was a member of one or two negatively stigmatized social groups. After the session, students adopted more positive general attitudes toward and more positive profiles of the stigmatized groups. This change in general attitudes was especially pronounced for whichever category was made salient.