Intergroup Anxiety

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Intergroup anxiety is a a concept largely associated with Stephan and Stephan (1985). It has been empirically correlated with increases in prejudice and perceived outgroup homogeneity. Islam and Hewstone have found that quality of contact, along the lines of the contact hypothesis (equal status, positive, intimate, voluntary, & cooperative) predicts reductions in intergroup anxiety while negative qualities of contact (unequal status, negative, superficial, involuntary, and competetive) increase intergroup anxiety. A recent meta-analysis of contact hypothesis effects by Pettigrew and Tropp (In Press), has found that intergroup anxiety mediates much of the relationship between contact and prejudice reduction.