Assessing the effects of intergroup contact on immigration attitudes

ABSTRACT

A significant number of native-born citizens hold anti-immigrant attitudes. Social science scholars often point to intergroup contact between native-born citizens and foreign-born residents as the solution to group threat fears regarding immigrants. Through social interaction, prejudice and stereotypes are expected to be replaced by empathy and positive attitudes. Studies indicate that immigrant friendship, greater frequency of contact in more social domains, and higher quality interactions, lead to pro-immigrant attitudes, while intergroup contact under poor social conditions may have null or negative effects. Methodological changes and an analytical focus on contact structure and interactional process will offer a better test of intergroup contact theory as it pertains to attitudes toward immigrants.

KEYWORDS:

• Contact theory
• Immigration attitudes
• Foreign-born
• Interpersonal interaction
• Nativism

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments.