ABSTRACT
The contact hypothesis (Allport, 1954/1979) is among the most often researched psychological principles for reducing racial/ethnic prejudice (Brewer & Brown, 1998; Cook, 1985; Pettigrew, 1986; Stephan & Brigham, 1985). It emphasizes the social situation, aims to change individual prejudiced attitudes, and proposes several conditions necessary for intergroup contact to be successful in reducing prejudice and enhancing tolerance. Prominent among these conditions in Allport’s original formulation were:
normative support by authority figures;
equal status of participants within the situation (e.g., via role assignments);
cooperative interdependence among participants; and
individualized association or personal contact (e.g., having the potential to promote friendships).
