Personalized positive contact fails to generalize because outgroup members get subtyped as exceptions

Evidence

Nevertheless, as Allport recognized, one major reason why the positive benefits of intergroup contact may fail to generalize to the outgroup as a whole is that the specific outgroup members present are favorably regarded as exceptions and not necessarily typical of their group as a whole (see also Wilder, 1984). Allport (1954/1979) proposed: “When a fact can not fit into a mental field, the exception is acknowledged, but the field is hastily fenced in again” (p. 23). — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 573 (#expands, via linked claim)

In decategorization strategies to reduce bias, for example when people are instructed to have an interpersonal rather than a task focus during intergroup interaction, members of different social groups are induced to perceive themselves and others as separate individuals (Wilder, 1981) or to have more personalized interactions (Brewer & Miller, 1984). Reducing the salience of ingroup identity degrades ingroup biases (for example, in terms of evaluations and attributions), which interferes with the use of outgroup stereotypes and, through more personalized contact, undermines the validity of these stereotypes. However, because of the predisposition to categorize elements of the environment, decategorized orientations are unstable and difficult to maintain. Moreover, unless some recognition of group membership is maintained during interactions, the more positive feelings that develop toward someone formerly perceived as an outgroup member but now viewed as a unique individual are unlikely to generalize to other members of the group because the associative links between person and group are severed (Miller, 2002). — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 559 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Motivated observers replace exception-fencing subtypes with variable subgroups; Positive contact effects fail to generalize when outgroup members are treated as exceptions; Contact benefits fail to generalize when outgroup members are seen as exceptions — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 573 (+11 more)

Broader Connections

• Personalized positive encounters get discounted as exceptions rather than changing group attitudes #expands (1.00)
• Contact benefits fail to generalize when outgroup members are seen as exceptions #expands (0.95) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 573
• Decategorized contact reduces bias but fails to generalize beyond the individual #corroborates (0.95) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 559
• Individualized contact fails to generalize positive attitudes beyond the specific person #corroborates (0.95) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1808
• Pleasant personalized contact fails to generalize while salient group contact breeds anxiety #expands (0.92)
• Keeping subgroup identity salient aids generalization of contact benefits #complicates (0.85)
• Personal disclosure plus category typicality generalizes contact benefits to new outgroup members #complicates (0.80) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1816
• Motivated observers replace subtype exceptions with genuine subgroup variety within categories #complicates (0.75) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 305