ABSTRACT

The contact hypothesis (Allport, 1954), published the same year the US Supreme Court ruled that segregated schools violated the principles of the Constitution, argued that previously segregated groups would benefit from mutual contact. Not assuming that mere contact is sufficient to promote intergroup harmony, a number of contingencies that qualify the nature of contact were suggested as important. As summarized by Cook (1978), they stipulate: (1) cooperative activity towards a common goal; (2) equal status contact; (3) opportunity to disconfirm stereotypes; (4) normative support from authority figures; and (5) high acquaintance potential.