Positive contact changes attitudes but not stereotype content without disconfirmation plus typicality

Evidence

Although these two are clearly linked (Fiske, 1998), they can operate somewhat independently of one another, as evidenced by the literature on the contact hypothesis (see ch. 16 by Pettigrew & Tropp and ch. 17 by Kenworthy, Hewstone, Turner, & Voci, this volume). In an extensive meta-analysis, Pettigrew and Tropp (2000) argued that contact seems to be effective in bringing about more positive evaluations of outgroups, but contact may not change the content of group stereotypes. In an empirical investigation of this issue, we found that moderately positive contact with a Latino confederate was sufficient to produce more positive attitudes towards Latinos as a group. Change in stereotype strength, however, occurred only when certain further conditions were met. Specifically, it was necessary for the Latino confederate to behave in a manner that disconfirmed the group stereotype, and at the same time, for the participant to continue to see the Latino as typical of his group (Wolsko, Park, Judd, & Bachelor, 2003). — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 896

Categorization

• XREF: Core empirical grounding for the contact-theory reassessment; Pettigrew/Tropp meta-analysis finding and Wolsko et al. experimental conditions for stereotype change.
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 896