Intergroup trust in Northern Ireland.
Although prominent political agendas have placed a great deal of importance on building trust in postconflict areas, there has been a lack of empirical research on its role in areas of intergroup conflict. The authors conducted two studies to examine the relationship between trust and intergroup behavioral tendencies-and the potential for intergroup contact to build trust in Northern Ireland. Study 1 showed that outgroup trust mediates the impact of intergroup contact on behavioral tendencies toward the outgroup. Study 2 revealed the importance of trusting the outgroup over simply liking the outgroup; establishing outgroup trust is crucial, as trust is a stronger predictor of behavioral tendencies toward the outgroup than positive attitudes are. Results also demonstrated two mechanisms for increasing outgroup trust-through both direct and extended intergroup contact. These studies further our understanding of the psychological mechanisms underlying the formation of intergroup trust and behavior in areas of conflict.
Tam
Tania
T
University of Oxford, UK. taniayvonne@gmail.com
Hewstone
Miles
M
Kenworthy
Jared
J
Cairns
Ed
E
D001290:Attitude; D002410:Catholicism / Q000523:psychology; D002960:Civil Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009660:Northern Ireland; D011287:Prejudice; D033303:Protestantism / Q000523:psychology; D012929:Psychological Distance; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012933:Social Identification; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D035502:Trust; D055815:Young Adult