How does intergroup contact affect social change? Its impact on collective action and individual mobility intentions among members of a disadvantaged group
Abstract
A current debate surrounds the issue of whether prejudice-reducing interventions such as intergroup contact may reduce resistance to unequal intergroup relations among disadvantaged groups. Addressing this question, the present research investigates how positive contact with members of the advantaged group shapes action strategies to cope with disadvantage. Using survey data from a sample of Latino-Americans (N =112), structural equation modelling revealed that friendship contact with Anglo-Whites was overall negatively associated with interest in collective action. This relation was due to both reduced identification with the disadvantaged group and positive attitudes toward the advantaged group, which predicted reduced anger about inequality. Contact was also positively associated with an individual mobility orientation, a relation which was explained through increased perceived permeability. Individual mobility orientation did not, however, predict reduced motivation for collective action. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings for societal change and novel directions for future research are discussed.
Citation
Tausch , N , Saguy , T & Bryson , J 2015 , ' How does intergroup contact affect social change? Its impact on collective action and individual mobility intentions among members of a disadvantaged group ' , Journal of Social Issues , vol. 71 , no. 3 , pp. 536-553 . https://doi.org/10.1111/josi.12127
Publication
Journal of Social Issues
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
0022-4537Type
Journal article
Rights
© The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues. This work is made available online in accordance with the publisher’s policies. This is the author created, accepted version manuscript following peer review and may differ slightly from the final published version. The final published version of this work is available at https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/josi.12127. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.
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