Secondary transfer effect among children: The role of social dominance orientation and outgroup attitudes.

Loris Vezzali,Alessia Cadamuro,Gian Antonio Di Bernardo,Sofia Stathi,Barbara Lášticová,Simona Andraščiková

doi:10.1111/bjso.12248

Abstract

Research has provided evidence that the effects of intergroup contact on prejudice reduction are not limited to the outgroup one has contact with (primary outgroup). Rather, they extend to secondary outgroups uninvolved in the contact situation (secondary transfer effect; Pettigrew, 2009, Social Psychology, 40, 55). We aimed to provide the first empirical evidence for the emergence of the secondary transfer effect among children. Majority (Italian) and minority (with an immigrant background) elementary schoolchildren were administered a questionnaire including measures of contact with the primary outgroup (minority children for the majority, majority children for the minority), prejudice towards the primary outgroup and towards a dissimilar secondary outgroup (disabled children), and social dominance orientation. Results revealed that among the majority group, contact with the primary outgroup had indirect associations with reduced prejudice towards the secondary outgroup. Specifically, we found evidence for sequential mediation by social dominance orientation and prejudice towards the primary outgroup. No secondary transfer effects emerged among minority group members. We discuss theoretical and practical implications of the findings, arguing for the importance of identifying the core processes driving the secondary transfer effect.

Highlights

Research has provided evidence that the effects of intergroup contact on prejudice reduction are not limited to the outgroup one has contact with
With respect to underlying processes, we aim to integrate the common explanation of secondary transfer effects via attitude generalization with the explanation provided by social dominance orientation (SDO) reduction, by testing whether reduced SDO due to contact with the primary outgroup predicts improved attitudes toward the primary outgroup, which in turn should be associated with reduced prejudice toward the secondary outgroup
Participants endorsed on average low levels of SDO, which were significantly different from mid-point of the scale, both for majority and for minority children, ts > 6.31, p

Summary

Introduction

Research has provided evidence that the effects of intergroup contact on prejudice reduction are not limited to the outgroup one has contact with (primary outgroup) Rather, they extend to secondary outgroups uninvolved in the contact situation (secondary transfer effect; Pettigrew, 2009). One recent study identified social dominance orientation (Sidanius & Pratto, 1999) as a new variable mediating the path between intergroup contact and attitudes toward secondary outgroups (Shook, Opkins, & Koech, 2016). Testing this variable in research with children is the second aim of the present study. Providing support for the need of implementing contact interventions since childhood, decreases in prejudice were only found when there were contact opportunities

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