Obstacles to intergroup contact: When outgroup partner's anxiety meets perceived ethnic discrimination

Emerging research suggests that outgroup partner's anxiety can disrupt intergroup rapport‐building. This study extends previous findings by investigating the interactive effects of anticipated outgroup partner's anxiety and perceived ethnic discrimination on self‐anxiety and intergroup con...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British journal of social psychology 2013-12, Vol.52 (4), p.781-792
Main Authors: Andrighetto, Luca, Durante, Federica, Lugani, Federica, Volpato, Chiara, Mirisola, Alberto
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adolescents
Albania - ethnology
Anxiety
Anxiety - psychology
Avoidance
Biological and medical sciences
Communication
Discrimination
Emigrants and Immigrants - psychology
Ethnicity
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Group Processes
Humans
Immigrants
Intergroup contact
Intergroup Relations
Interpersonal Relations
Italy
Male
Minority Groups
Minority Groups - psychology
Outgroups
Prejudice - psychology
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Racial discrimination
Self Concept
Social Contact
Social Environment
Social Identification
Social interactions. Communication. Group processes
Social Perception
Social psychology
Surveys and Questionnaires
Young Adult
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Summary:Emerging research suggests that outgroup partner's anxiety can disrupt intergroup rapport‐building. This study extends previous findings by investigating the interactive effects of anticipated outgroup partner's anxiety and perceived ethnic discrimination on self‐anxiety and intergroup contact avoidance. A sample of immigrant adolescents belonging to different ethnic minorities in Italy (N = 118) was considered. Results showed that when participants expected to interact with an anxious outgroup (Italian) versus in‐group partner, self‐anxiety increased and, as a consequence, their intentions to avoid future encounters. However, these effects were observed only for participants with higher (vs. lower) perceptions of being discriminated against. The implications of these results for interethnic communication and misunderstandings are discussed.
ISSN:0144-6665
2044-8309
DOI:10.1111/bjso.12039