The density of social networks moderates effects of intergroup contact

This study tests how the density of the social network in which intergroup contact takes place might affect the extent to which contact improves intergroup attitudes. Having contact with more outgroup members in dense social networks, in which everybody knows each other, may reinforce contact's...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of intercultural relations 2016-11, Vol.55, p.133-147
Main Author: Stark, Tobias H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Attitudes
Density
Ethnic groups
Ethnicity
Group dynamics
Group identity
Intergroup contact
Intergroup relations
Internet
Network density
Positive thought
Prejudice
Social contact
Social networks
Studies
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Summary:This study tests how the density of the social network in which intergroup contact takes place might affect the extent to which contact improves intergroup attitudes. Having contact with more outgroup members in dense social networks, in which everybody knows each other, may reinforce contact's positive effect. In this case, outgroup contact is shared with ingroup members, which suggests positive ingroup norms toward the outgroup. Alternatively, more contact in denser networks may improve intergroup attitudes less because density may increase subtyping or reduce the salience of ethnic group memberships. These competing hypotheses are tested among white American adults in a nonprobability online sample (N=305) and in a representative national sample (N=1270). In both studies, contact is associated with more positive attitudes toward racial outgroups but the positive contact effect is weakened if that contact takes place in a denser social network.
ISSN:0147-1767
1873-7552
DOI:10.1016/j.ijintrel.2016.10.004