Stigma and the Social Basis of the Self: A Synthesis

Intergroup relations are notoriously problematic. When individuals or groups of individuals with different social identities interact, tension and negative emotion often abound (W. G. Stephan & C. W. Stephan, 1985). People sometimes cope with these tensions by simply withdrawing from intergroup contact (Tatum, 1997). Too often, however, tension escalates into seemingly intractable conflict, with destructive consequences (Prentice & Miller, 1999).