Effects of majority members' positive intergroup contact on minority members' support for ingroup rights: Mobilizing or demobilizing effects?

• DOI: 10.1002/ejsp.2194
• Publication Date: 2017-04-25T07:10:52Z
• Authors: Mathias Kauff; Eva G. T. Green; Katharina Schmid; Miles Hewstone; Oliver Christ
• Keywords: Ingroups and outgroups; Prejudice (legal term); Contact hypothesis; Contact Theory; Minority group; Minority Rights

Abstract While some research suggests that ethnic and cultural diversity hinders societal cohesion, other studies show it promotes intergroup contact opportunities, which, if exploited, help to overcome prejudice. Recently, however, theory has been criticized for neglecting the wider social context as well ignoring potential demobilizing effects minority members. Using two cross‐sectional general population surveys (European Social Survey in 22 countries, Swiss MOSAiCH), we address these criticisms by examining whether majority members' positive influences support ingroup rights at level. Applying multilevel path analysis, members are more likely anti‐discrimination laws immigrant when living contexts which have experiences. Theoretical practical implications of our findings discussed understanding how groups affected climate they reside in.