Intergroup anxiety produces information biases, defensiveness, and avoidance of future contact

Evidence

In general, intergroup anxiety is associated with a number of negative outcomes that may harm the impact of contact, including informationprocessing biases such as a narrowed focus of attention and simplified, expectancy-confirming cognitive processing, which may lead to avoidance of contact and polarized group judgments (Stephan & Stephan, 1985). — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1833 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Cross-group friendships reduce prejudice partly by lowering intergroup anxiety. — Miles Hewstone and Joanne Hughes, Reconciliation in Northern Ireland: the…, 11; 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; Racial anxiety is a measurable stress response to intergroup contact (+8 more)

Broader Connections

• Intergroup anxiety narrows attention and biases perceptions toward expectations #expands (0.92) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1833