A longstanding line of research that aims to combat bias among conflicting groups springs from a theory called the contact hypothesis. Learn allport theory with free interactive flashcards. Past, present, and future, authorjim a c everett and diana onu, year20 jim a c everett, diana onu published 20 in the midst of racial segregation in the u. Allport came from a working family that valued health and education. Contact theory and the concept of prejudice sage journals. Pettigrew university of california, santa cruz linda r.
Gordon allport was born in montezuma, indiana, in 1897, the youngest of four brothers. The relationship between prejudice and categorical thinking was first systematically explored by gordon allport 1954 in his classic book the nature of prejudice. Gordon allport gordon allport, a psychologist, created allport s scale in 1954. Reducing prejudice and discrimination via intergroup contact. In addition, a theoretical distinction of the intercultural approach has been its relational notion of social contact a wellestablished theory in social psychology.
Introduction gordon allport was truly a phenomenal personality theorist who explained what a personality is and he bent most of the rules that were set out by other theorists including the father of personality himself, sigmund freud and in addition to that, he considered freuds theory of personality as the worst theory of. Allport s 1954 contact hypothesis proposed that intergroup contact is a powerful means for improving intergroup attitudes. Personality theories gordon allport theory one thing that motivates human beings is the tendency to satisfy biological survival needs, which allport referred to as opportunistic functioning. Subsequent theory and research has developed this hypothesis into a fullblown theory that makes precise predictions about the effects of different types of contact on mainly attitudinal outcomes, and how and. Unlimited viewing of the articlechapter pdf and any associated supplements and figures. Analysis of intergroup contact effects has allport been suppo. We provide an overview of the type and trait theory of personality as developed by this famous psychologist. Personality trait theory, research on prejudice and discrimination. In addition to providing a useful commonsense framework for contact theory, allport s criteria provided useful guideposts for researchers hoping to test practical interventions geared at reducing prejudice an area of great concern to researchers in the postwar years, which coincided. Theories and studies about reducing racial prejudice. Allports scale of prejudice and discrimination youtube. This idea was first articulated by allport as the contact hypothesis. With this level of support, why hasnt intergroup contact eliminated prejudice from society.
Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Building off what was by then a couple decades worth of serious work on the subject, including williamss research, in 1954 gordon allport, one of the titans of 20thcentury social psychology, offered up the clearest and simplest explanation of contact theory yet, published in book the nature of prejudice. Allport s the nature of prejudice is one of the most influential works ever written in the field of psychology. Gordon allport was a pioneering psychologist often referred to as one of the founders of personality psychology. The contact hypothesis lies at the center of social psychological research on prejudice reduction. In psychology and other social sciences, the contact hypothesis suggests that intergroup. A shy and studious boy, he was teased quite a bit and lived a fairly isolated childhood. Everett edited by diana onu in the midst of racial segregation in the u. An introduction to gordon allports the nature of prejudice. Allport 1954 proposed one of the most important social psychological events of. The parasocial contact hypothesis edward schiappa, peter b. Allport argued that instincts and impulses arent the only things that motivate human beings.
According to his personality theories every individual is unique and so his personality and his personality should be analyzed in the present circumstances and context rather than the past as personality continuously evolves rather than remaining stagnant throughout the lifetime. Hewes we propose a communication analogue to allport s 1954 contact hypothesis called the parasocial contact hypothesis pch. Gordon allports contact hypothesis facing history and ourselves. The purpose of this study is to test gordon allport s theory of contact hypothesis about cultural attitude change in college students. The effort to understand if contact between groups would facilitate intergroup relations was triggered after world war ii by the human relations movement. The purpose of this study is to test gordon allports theory of contact hypothesis about cultural attitude change in college students.
Tropp boston college the present article presents a metaanalytic test of intergroup contact theory. Gordon allport s the nature of prejudice irwin katz gordon allport s landmark book, the nature of prejudice, defined the field of intergroup relations for social psychologists as the study of prejudice and its effects on group interactions. We also call attention to the lack of research that systematically investigates the scope conditions suggested by allport 1954 under which contact is most influential. Allports the nature of prejudice is one of the most influential works ever written in the field of psychology.
The premise of allports theory states that under appropriate conditions interpersonal contact is one of the most effective ways to reduce prejudice between majority. He rejected two of the dominant schools of thought in psychology at the time, psychoanalysis and behaviorism, in favor of his own approach that stressed the importance of individual differences and situational variables. Yet research finds that the positive effects of crossgroup. Dovidio, miles hewstone, peter glick, and victoria m. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus.
Of them, social psychologist gordon allport united early research in this vein under intergroup contact theory. Mar 31, 2020 gordon allport was a pioneering psychologist often referred to as one of the founders of personality psychology. The present chapter will introduce intergroup contact theory as one of the most prominent approaches to prejudice reduction within psychology e. Assessing the effectiveness of gordon allports contact. Hewes we propose a communication analogue to allports 1954 contact hypothesis called the parasocial contact hypothesis pch. Allport 1954 feels that individual therapy is the best one, yet no study has been convincing of this. In the nature of prejudice, gordon allport 1954, p. Critique on gordon allport theories of personality free. The contact hypothesis allport, 1954 claims that interaction between different groups will lead to better intergroup relations and a reduction of intergroup prejudice.
Search the history of over 424 billion web pages on the. This resulted in allport developing a great interest in understanding human motivation, impulses, and personality, resulting in his trait theory of personality. Mar 10, 2015 allports trait theory of personality 1. Allport explored ways to reduce intergroup conflict and negative stereotypes.
Gordon allports contact hypothesis has been greatly advanced over the decades into what is now called contact theory. Gordon allport s contact hypothesis has been greatly advanced over the decades into what is now called contact theory. Allport can be considered as the originator of the intergroup contact theory in his famous and influential book the nature of prejudice, he summarized early research on intergroup contact. He noted that opportunistic functioning can be characterized as reactive, pastoriented, and, of course, biological. Allports intergroup contact hypothesis allport 1954 held that positive effects of intergroup contact occur only in situations marked by four key conditions. The seeds of intergroup contact theory developments since allport a meta. The premise of allport s theory states that under appropriate conditions interpersonal contact is one of the most effective ways to reduce prejudice between majority and minority group members. Esses abstract this chapter has two main objectives. Sep 21, 2018 gordon allport 1897 1967 was a wellrespected and influential american scholar in the psychology field. His theory is considered one of the first humanist theories because it conceives man as an autonomous being with free will. A metaanalysis with 515 studies and more than 250,000 subjects demonstrates that intergroup contact typically reduces prejudice mean r 21. Allport s intergroup contact hypothesis allport 1954 held that positive effects of intergroup contact occur only in situations marked by four key conditions.
The application of the theory toward the improvement of intergroup relations has had the effect of concealing the fact that contact theory is fundamentally a prejudice theory and not a theory of intergroup relations. The premise of allports theory states that under appropriate conditions interpersonal contact is one of the most effective ways to reduce prejudice between majority and minority group members. If people process massmediated parasocial interaction in a manner similar to interpersonal interaction, then the socially bene. Gordon allport was one of the pioneer trait theorists who attempted to list the traits that make an individuals personality. The contact hypothesis reevaluated behavioural public. Jan 11, 2011 this video is about the contact hypothesis see allport, 1954. Gordon willard allport spent nearly his entire academic career at harvard, completing both his bachelors degree and his phd at the university, and serving as a faculty member from 1930 1967. Of these two terms behavior is placed first because it is an explanatory principle, and therefore more fundamental. Prejudice unless deeply rooted in the character structure of the individual may be reduced by equal status contact between majority and minority groups in the pursuit of common goals. The problem with using contact to reduce prejudice is not that the contact hypothesis is wrong, but that it is so difficult to meet the conditions allport outlined. Meaning of trait the adjectives and characteristics of one behavior is known as trait, these traits are helpful in describing ones personality and a.
We conclude that these gaps in contact research must be addressed empirically before this hypothesis can reliably guide policy. Full text of the nature of prejudice internet archive. In 1954, allport published the nature of prejudice, in which he outlined the most widely cited form of the hypothesis. Search the history of over 424 billion web pages on the internet. Understanding gordon allports trait theory of personality. Allport explored ways to reduce intergroup conflict and negative stereotypes about other racial groups minority groups from the perspective.
Allport s scale of prejudice and discrimination duration. Contact hypothesis an overview sciencedirect topics. Gordon allport gordon allport, a psychologist, created allports scale in 1954. Gordon allports contact hypothesis facing history and. Varied research supports the hypothesis, but four problems remain. With 7 independent samples from 515 studies, the metaanalysis finds that intergroup contact typically reduces intergroup. Participants were college first year students participating in first year seminar classes in a small southeastern liberal arts university. Although allport recognized the emotional, social, economic, and historic dimensions of prejudice, he also proposed that prejudice is partly an outgrowth of normal human functioning. Allport 1954 the contact hypothesis or intergroup contact theory states that under appropriate conditions interpersonal contact is one of the most effective ways to reduce prejudice between majority and minority groups members. Full text of the nature of prejudice see other formats. Allport specified four conditions for optimal intergroup contact. A and the jim crow laws, gordon allport 1954 proposed one of the most important social psychological events of the 20th century, suggesting that contact between members of different groups under certain conditions can work to reduce. Recent advances in intergroup contact theory sciencedirect. Allport s most popular book is mans search for meaning.
According to allport 1954, there are six programs that can be used to reduce prejudice. Gordon allport was a psychologist who laid the foundations of personality psychology. Allport s original conditions for optimal contact equal status, common goals, no intergroup competition, and authority sanction facilitate the effect but are not. Allports trait theory of personality exploring your mind. A selection bias limits crosssectional studies, since prejudiced people avoid intergroup contact. He noted that opportunistic functioning can be characterized. Allport 1954 held that positive effects of intergroup contact occur only in situations marked by four key conditions. Gordon allport was a very wellknown american psychologist who laid the foundations for personality psychology. Another paradox within this model states that the goals which are pursued by the healthy personality, in the final analysis, are.
In fact, he believed the healthy persons life could be grim with pain and sorrow. A metaanalytic test of intergroup contact theory thomas f. A and the jim crow laws, gordon allport 1954 proposed one of the most important social psychological events of the 20th century, suggesting that contact between members of different groups. Developed in the 1950s by gordon allport, phd, the theory holds that contact between two groups can promote tolerance and acceptance, but only under certain conditions, such as equal status among groups and common goals. Healthy personality in allport s view, happiness is not a goal in itself. Psychology is the science which studies behavior and consciousness. Lecture fifteen intergroup contact theory, contact hypothesis. Understanding gordon allport s trait theory of personality. The contact hypothesis offers hope for the world science of us. This short video from macat explains the key ideas in the work in only a. Choose from 221 different sets of allport theory flashcards on quizlet. One of the most significant and enduring contributions of social psychology in the past 50 years is known as the contact hypothesis.
In the years prior to allports framing of intergroup contact theory, social. Pdf recent advances in intergroup contact theory thomas. Gordon allport 1897 1967 was a wellrespected and influential american scholar in the psychology field. A reformulation of intergroup contact theory 75 individual differences shape contact effects 77 societies shape contact effects.
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