Perspective-taking increases willingness to engage in intergroup contact.
The current research explored whether perspective-taking increases willingness to engage in contact with stereotyped outgroup members. Across three studies, we find that perspective-taking increases willingness to engage in contact with negatively-stereotyped targets. In Study 1, perspective-takers sat closer to, whereas stereotype suppressors sat further from, a hooligan compared to control participants. In Study 2, individual differences in perspective-taking tendencies predicted individuals' willingness to engage in contact with a hooligan, having effects above and beyond those of empathic concern. Finally, Study 3 demonstrated that perspective-taking's effects on intergroup contact extend to the target's group (i.e., another homeless man), but not to other outgroups (i.e., a man of African descent). Consistent with other perspective-taking research, our findings show that perspective-taking facilitates the creation of social bonds by increasing contact with stereotyped outgroup members.
Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States of America.
Cynthia S
CS
Wang
Singapore Management University, Singapore, Singapore.
Tai
T
Kenneth
London Business School, London, United Kingdom.
Gillian
G
Ku
Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America.
Adam D
AD
Galinsky
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003071:Cognition; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D011287:Prejudice; D011582:Psychological Theory; D012919:Social Behavior; D012938:Social Perception; D013240:Stereotyping; D055815:Young Adult