Causes Of Intergroup Conflict

Intergroup conflict is the competition between two or more groups for control over property or power and it can be displayed on a spectrum from prejudice to genocide (Ramiah & Hewstone, 2013). Intergroup contact can significantly reduce, resolve, and prevent conflict. Actual contact is defined as face-to-face contact between members, not just proximity as it can occur without meaningful contact.
Empirical data supports the idea that intergroup contact will decrease negative attitudes towards out-group members (Binder et al., 2009; Dixon et al., 2010; Merrilees et al., 2018; Pettigrew & Tropp, 2010). Gordon Allport found that those engaging in intergroup contact are more likely to have less prejudice towards outgroup members than those without

They were asked four questions and to answer based on a Likert scale. The questions asked were “how often do you interact with people from the other community in each others house/ at school/ in your neighborhood/ through activities such as sport teams, community service, or other activities outside of school?” Their answers could range from never (0), rarely (1), sometime (2), often (3), very often (4), don’t know (8), and refused (9). Scores were averaged to indicate a contact frequency index with a higher score indicating increased contact frequency (α = .893).
Intergroup contact quality
Adolescents reported the quality of their contact experiences with the out-group (Dixon et al., 2010). They were asked “when I come into contact with someone from the other community… we interact as equals/the contact is friendly/the contact is pleasant/we generally cooperate well with each other/I feel that the contact is close and intimate like being with good friends and family.” These responses were rated on a Likert scale, the same as the last. These scores were averaged to indicate contact quality index with a higher score meaning more positive contact (α = .991).

Allport founded the idea that intergroup contact decreases prejudice towards outgroup members (as sited in Ramiah & Hewstone, 2013). Since his finding in 1954 a multitude of other researchers have slightly altered his idea to find the same results. Studies in Belgium, Germany, and England along with post-apartheid societies both found that contact quality is the leading agent at reducing attitudes of prejudice and contact frequency plays a lesser role (Binder et al., 2009; Dixon et al., 2010). Separate studies in Liberia and Bosnia found that intergroup contact can specifically induce feelings of trust, empathy and forgiveness towards the outgroup members (Cehajic et al., 2008; De Tezanos-Pinto et al., 2017). The results found in this study are important because they can be used to implement new ways to create peace. If citizens of areas engulfed in prejudice want peace to occur then its more likely to occur rather than an outside force pushing peace onto them. If we can control the types of contact intergroup members have then we have a better chance at achieving peace. The study allows us to find real, practical meaning in all the results that can solve