ABSTRACT
Intergroup interactions are particularly susceptible to interpersonal misunderstandings. Recognition of different group memberships, even when the basis of this membership is arbitrary and not naturalistically meaningful, is sufficient to initiate a range of biased processes, perspectives, and evaluations (Gaertner & Dovidio, 2000; Tajfel & Turner, 1979). The present chapter examines how prejudice and bias systematically influence interactions between members of different groups. The misunderstandings that occur in these interpersonal interactions typically both reflect and reinforce the nature of intergroup perceptions and relations. We illustrate these processes with the example of Black–White relations in the United States.
