The rare negative factors that block contact’s benefits are the least understood

Evidence

This shift in perspective challenges the original “positive factors” approach taken by Allport in The Nature of Prejudice. But this revised view is consistent with the contentions of other theorists who propose that greater contact and familiarity typically contribute to increased liking (e.g., Homans, 1950; Zajonc, 1968). And presently, with only a minute number of contact studies showing contact leading to greater prejudice, the “negative factors” that curb reductions in prejudice now appear to be the most problematic theoretically, yet the least understood. Thus, future contact research must grant more attention to the negative factors operating in contact situations to enhance understanding of the conditions that may inhibit the development of positive contact outcomes. — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1711 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

But the meta-analytic data reveal that the knowledge gained from past contact research is limited by its primary emphasis on positive features of the contact situation. Factors that curb contact’s ability to reduce prejudice are now the most problematic theoretically, yet the least understood. These negative factors, ranging from intergroup anxiety (Stephan & Stephan, 1985) to authoritarianism and normative restraints (Pettigrew, Wagner, Stellmacher, & Christ, 2006), deserve to become a major focus of future contact research. — Thomas F. Pettigrew, Linda R. Tropp, A Meta-Analytic Test of Intergroup…, 232 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Negative factors inhibiting contact’s effect are the least understood theoretically — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1711; Negative factors limiting contact’s prejudice reduction remain the least understood — Thomas F. Pettigrew, Linda R. Tropp, A Meta-Analytic Test of Intergroup…, 232; The conditions that inhibit positive contact effects are the least understood.

Broader Connections

• Negative factors inhibiting contact’s effect are the least understood theoretically #corroborates (0.96) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1711
• Negative factors limiting contact’s prejudice reduction remain the least understood #corroborates (0.95) — Thomas F. Pettigrew, Linda R. Tropp, A Meta-Analytic Test of Intergroup…, 232
• The conditions that inhibit positive contact effects are the least understood. #corroborates (0.94)