Contact Hypothesis
Updated 2026-08-06
INTRODUCTION
English translation pending.
CORE DEFINITION
Proposed by Gordon Allport, the contact hypothesis holds that direct interaction between groups reduces prejudice when four conditions are met: equal status within the situation, shared goals, cooperation rather than competition, and support from an authority. Mere proximity is not sufficient and can intensify hostility when these conditions are absent. Later research broadly confirmed the effect while adding that close friendship across group lines produces the largest reductions.
SCAFFOLDING EFFECT
Reduce cognitive load
- Design the conditions: arrange contact with equal status, a shared goal, cooperation and authority support. - Work on a real problem: give the groups a concrete task they must solve together. - Avoid zero-sum framing: do not set the groups up to compete for the same scarce reward.
Anchor fast decisions
Prejudice rests partly on the absence of individuating information, so the out-group is judged by its stereotype. Cooperative contact under equal status supplies counterexamples and a shared success that cannot be attributed to one group alone, which weakens the stereotype. Competitive or unequal contact supplies confirming instances instead, which is why it increases hostility.
MINIMUM ACTION
In progress 0/1Practice this model in one real situation:
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Source support: Explicit
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contact_hypothesisverified
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