Intergroup contact only reduces prejudice when it promotes person-based processing over category-based processing.

Evidence

Regarding when contact is most effective, we know that contact is typically more strongly associated with more positive out-group attitudes when category memberships remain salient during contact (see Brown & Hewstone, 2005). — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 556 (#contradicts, via linked claim)

Emphasizing categorization during contact, however, is not without its own dangers. Making categories salient risks exacerbating and reinforcing perceptions of group differences, which may result in anxiety, discomfort, and fear (Hewstone & Brown, 1986). — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1811 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim
• XREF: connects to: Intergroup contact reduces prejudice best when group categories stay salient. — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 556; Cooperative contact only reduces prejudice when it fosters interpersonal over task orientation. — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 2497; Personalized intergroup contact reduces prejudice by making category boundaries less meaningful. — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 2494 (+12 more)

Broader Connections

• Intergroup contact reduces prejudice best when group categories stay salient. #contradicts (0.95) — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 556
• Salient group category awareness improves prejudice reduction during contact. #contradicts (0.93)
• Salient categorization during intergroup contact can breed anxiety rather than reduce prejudice. #complicates (0.75) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1811
• Superficial intergroup contact can actually worsen rather than reduce prejudice #complicates (0.72) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1795
• Superficial intergroup contact reinforces rather than reduces stereotypes #complicates (0.71)