The contact hypothesis revisited: Status bias in the reduction of implicit prejudice in the United States and Lebanon

P. J. Henry, Curtis D. Hardin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Although 50 years of research demonstrate that friendly intergroup contact reduces intergroup prejudice, the findings are based solely on self-reported, explicit prejudice. In two parallel experiments examining intergroup contact and prejudice - between Whites and Blacks in the United States (Experiment 1) and between Christians and Muslims in Lebanon (Experiment 2) - we examined whether intergroup status differences moderate contact effects on implicit prejudice, as well as explicit prejudice. Both experiments replicated the standard effect of contact on explicit prejudice. They also demonstrated that intergroup contact reduces implicit prejudice among low-status groups. In Experiment 1, the implicit prejudice of Blacks toward Whites (but not Whites toward Blacks) was reduced as a function of friendly contact. In Experiment 2, the implicit prejudice of Muslims toward Christians (but not Christians toward Muslims) was reduced as a function of friendly contact.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)862-868
Number of pages7
JournalPsychological Science
Volume17
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2006

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Psychology

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