Intergroup anxiety is fueled by anticipated negative contact and by symbolic and realistic threats.

Evidence

Intergroup anxiety is thought to stem from the anticipation of negative consequences during contact, such as embarrassment, rejection, discrimination, or misunderstanding, and may therefore be exacerbated by minimal prior contact with the outgroup and large status or numerical differences between the ingroup and the outgroup (Stephan & Stephan, 1985). Anxiety may also result from intergroup threat, either symbolic or realistic, a distinction that is prominent in Stephan and Stephan’s (2000) Integrated Threat Model. Symbolic threat is conceptualized as a threat to the value system, belief system, or worldview of the ingroup, whereas realistic threat is a threat to the political and economic power, or physical well-being, of the ingroup. — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1832 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

A second approach stays at the individual level but investigates the causes and consequences of individuals’ emotional reactions, for example, in face-to-face encounters with members of outgroups. A number of approaches have emphasized different emotions that can arise in intergroup encounters. These emotions are assumed to be largely negative, but can include several distinct emotions (beyond just anger and hate). Dijker (1987), for example, found that irritation often resulted from personal encounters with outgroup members (especially those who are culturally different). For example, in one study, Dutch respondents reported feeling irritation especially in encounters with Turks and Moroccans, the minority groups most culturally different from the Dutch themselves. The aversive racism (Gaertner & Dovidio, 1986) and the intergroup anxiety (Stephan & Stephan, 1985) approaches both focus on feelings of unease and anxiety in intergroup interaction. These emotions arise from more or less “innocent” (at least nonracist) causes, such as a lack of knowledge about the outgroup, fear of unintentionally giving offense, and general lack of necessary interactional skills for intergroup interaction. — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 2258 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Negative outgroup contact raises anxiety, which breeds hostility and contact avoidance. — Blake M. Riek, Eric W. Mania, and Samuel L. Gaertner, Intergroup Threat and Outgroup…, 47; Intergroup anxiety arises from anticipated negative consequences and perceived threats — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1832; Anxiety and threat block both intergroup contact and its benefits — Thomas F. Pettigrew, Intergroup Contact Theory, 94 (+6 more)

Broader Connections

• Intergroup anxiety arises from anticipated negative consequences and perceived threats #corroborates (0.98) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1832
• Intergroup anxiety arises from innocent causes like ignorance, not racism #complicates (0.82) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 2258