Developing inclusive societies: The role of valence and intensity of offline and online interethnic contact

Changes in social diversity constitute a key factor shaping today’s world. Global modernisation and continued forced migrations have dramatically changed most countries’ demographic composition, including Italy, enhancing proximity between different ethnic groups. A long tradition of social psychology research assessed the optimal conditions of contact between groups to reduce outgroup prejudice. Yet, there is a critical lack of consensus on whether these conditions do not only reduce negative outcomes, such as prejudice and discrimination, but also promote positive outcomes, such as social integration, leading to the pursuit of a more inclusive and equal society. Thus, the implications of different valence (i.e., positive, negative, ambivalent) and intensity (i.e., intimate, superficial, formal) of both online and offline experiences between ethnic groups on social integration, is still unknown. This project integrates research considering majority (i.e., native) and minority (i.e., immigrant) groups across the lifespan (i.e., adolescents and adults) and from different countries (i.e., Italy and Turkey) as well as interminority contact, to provide ground-breaking knowledge on the optimal conditions of interethnic contact to endorse social integration.

The project aims to examine: a) whether and how intergroup contact valence and intensity facilitates social integration of majority and minority adolescents over time (Work Package 1); b) when and how intergroup contact valence and intensity are associated with distinct forms of social integration (i.e., social well-being, prosociality, solidarity; WP2); c) the role of content and structure of language during intergroup contact in fostering social integration (WP3); d) whether and how valence and intensity of contact between ethnic minorities facilitates social integration (WP4). To reach the project aims, a variety of research designs will be used (i.e., secondary analysis of cross-sectional and longitudinal data with both majority and minority groups of adolescents, comparing samples in Italy and Turkey; cross-sectional and experimental studies with native Italian adults; the analysis of linguistic materials; cross-sectional and experimental studies focusing on interminority contact).

The research project is coordinated by the PI at Bologna University and jointly implemented by the closely collaborating research unit at University of Ferrara, each with distinct project-relevant expertise. Given the high practical relevance, dissemination of research findings is central to this project. The main findings will be shared to distinct audiences, including academia, stake holders, pratictioners, journalists, and the general public. Dissemination take place through publications, conferences, and, a website specifically designed for this project. Overall, this project can contribute to developing evidence-based interventions to enhance social inclusivity in contemporary societies.

Risultati attesi: 

The University of Ferrara unit is mainly focusing on the point of view of the majority group, that is, Italian nationals, across most of our empirical research. Specifically, we aim to:
- Identify strategies to promote positive and supportive intergroup contact of Italian nationals with immigrants in Italy, focusing on cultural humility—i.e. an approach characterized by a lack of superiority toward people with a different cultural background, a lifelong commitment to learning from diversity, and the acknowledgement of and the willingness to address status and power imbalances. We expect to provide cross-sectional and experimental evidence supporting the hypothesis that cultural humility fosters intentions of future contact with immigrants.
- Analyze well-being as an outcome of majority group members’ contact with minoritized groups. Specifically, we are conducting cross-sectional and experimental research testing whether contact can increase different facets of well- being (e.g., social well-being, emotional well-being, life satisfaction, and satisfaction of the need to belong) among majority group members. In line with findings analyzing from studies analyzing the point of view of minoritized groups, and based on literature highlighting the importance of social connections for well-being, we expect intergroup contact to be positively associated with well-being.
- Investigate how advantaged group members’ intergroup contact with disadvantaged groups is associated with helping behavior, differentiating between autonomy- oriented help—i.e., offering problem-solving tools that enable disadvantaged group members to learn how to address challenges independently—and dependence- oriented help—i.e., providing minoritized group members with full solutions to their problems, keeping them in a continuous state of need. These associations are tested across different intergroup contexts—specifically analyzing relationships between Italian nationals and immigrants, people without and with autism spectrum disorder, and non-older and older people. We expect intergroup contact to be associated with both modes of help, and will explore possible differences in such associations, with the aim of disentangling the role of intergroup contact inchallenging or reinforcing status and power asymmetries.