ABSTRACT
Intergroup contact, or interaction with a member(s) of a different group, represents one of the most widely used social-psychological interventions for reducing prejudice (Allport, 1954). Pettigrew and Tropp’s (2006) meta-analysis of over 500 studies confirms that there is a fundamental, robust and positive impact of contact on intergroup attitudes (Pettigrew & Tropp, 2006). In this chapter, we focus on a complementary implementation of intergroup contact known as imagined contact. Imagined contact involves the mental simulation of a social interaction with a member or members of an out-group (Crisp & Turner, 2009, 2012). Despite being a relatively new technique, there have been rapid developments in the imagined contact field. More than seventy studies have now provided evidence of the efficacy of imagined contact as a simple and versatile prejudice reduction intervention (Miles & Crisp, 2014). In this chapter, we take stock of the progress made in the imagined contact field to date and offer an agenda for continued investigation.
