Re-assessing self-interest theory: Can intergroup contact constrain self-interested reactions?

• Published in: International journal of comparative sociology 2015-04, Vol.56 (2), p.98-115
• Main Authors: Frølund Thomsen, Jens Peter, Engrob Birkmose, Anders
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Belgien; Cognition; Deutschland; Dänemark; Einstellung (Psy); Einstellungsänderung; Einwanderer; Ethnische Gruppe; Finnland; Griechenland; Group identity; Großbritannien; Intergroup contact; Intergroup relations; Interkulturelles Lernen; Internationaler Vergleich; Irland; Israel; Italien; Kognition; Lernen; Luxemburg; Niederlande; Norwegen; Polen; Portugal; Responses; Schweden; Schweiz; Self interest; Slowenien; Social contact; Soziale Beziehung; Soziale Gruppe; Sozialer Wert; Threats; Tschechische Republik; Ungarn; Vulnerability; Österreich
• ISSN: 1568-5187; 1745-2554; 0020-7152; 1745-2554
• DOI: 10.1177/0020715215598351

This article expands previous research on self-interested reactions and intergroup contact by showing that (1) intergroup contact constrains the impact of personal economic vulnerability on perceived out-group threat, (2) personal economic vulnerability has no influence on perceived out-group threat when contact is most intense, and (3) the ability of intergroup contact to reduce perceived out-group threat is strongest among the most economically vulnerable. These findings were generated by a fixed-effects regression of 21 countries and almost 34,000 respondents sampled in the European Social Survey (2002–2003). More generally, our findings suggest that self-interested reactions can be overpowered by the cognitive and affective components of intergroup contact. The concluding section expands on the theoretical implications of the results.