Effects Of Positive Contact Research Articles

Contact with grandparents and young people’s explicit and implicit attitudes toward older adults

BackgroundGiven the dramatic rise in population aging and widespread negative attitudes toward older people, it is necessary to understand the factors that affect age-related attitudes among young people in order to improve intergenerational solidarity and reduce ageism. The current study examined young people’s contact with their grandparents and attitudes toward older people on both explicit and implicit levels.MethodThe sample included 146 Chinese college students (Mage = 21.50 yrs, SD = 2.23, 101 females). Participants completed a questionnaire concerning contact with their grandparents(contact quantity and contact quality), perceived typicality of their grandparents, intergroup anxiety, inclusion of other in the self, and explicit attitudes toward older people (aged 65 years or older) in general. Participants were also invited to complete a single-category implicit association test (SC-IAT) to assess their implicit attitudes toward older people.ResultsThe findings indicated that both quantity and quality of contact with grandparents predicted better explicit attitudes toward older people, and contact effects were stronger when one’s grandparents were perceived as being typical of older adults. Contact quantity (not quality) was associated with more favorable implicit attitudes only when one’s grandparents were perceived as highly typical older adults. Contact effects on explicit attitudes were mediated by intergroup anxiety and inclusion of other in the self.ConclusionOur findings on the positive effects of contact with grandparents underscore the importance of promoting intergenerational contact within the family as a starting point to reduce prejudice toward older adults in age-segregated modern societies. Current results also provide insights on how to extend the benefits of grandparent-grandchild contact outside the family by promoting the perceived typicality of one’s grandparents.

Presence-Centered Flourishing: A Proposal of Alternative Strategies to Promote Sustainable Living

Flourishing has been identified as a central concept in the new approaches based on the idea of positive psychology emerging at the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st centuries. A culture based on the idea of harmony may never have existed among the large public in the history of human thought. An educational system of this type could be based on what we propose here as a «presence-centered» pedagogy (in contrast to the contemporary «information-centered» and «skill-centered» pedagogies). The alternative education process that we propose is also particularly fitted to be conducted amongst nature and outdoor spaces rather than within a classroom, based on the extensive literature on the positive effects of contact with nature for human health and wellbeing. From a philosophical perspective, a presence-centered pedagogy would result in the promotion of a new sense of agency: an identity developed by exercising our co-dependence with the rest of the ecosystemic processes and life-support systems, as opposed to an identity conceived as being separated from the external environment. We argue here that such a revolutionary change of human’s self-definition could result in higher likelihood of changing our lifestyles in the direction of sustainability and collective wellbeing.

A Rewiew on the Secondary Transfer Effect of Intergroup Contact

Research showed that intergroup contact could increase social cohesion with many positive changes such as improved positive attitudes and trust as well as a decreased threat towards the groups in contact. However, faceto- face contact may be impossible in societies where intergroup conflicts are prevalent and groups are ethnically, racially, and religiously segregated. In such societies, the indirect and transferable effects of contact can be an opportunity to benefit from the positive effects of contact. One of the transferable effects of contact is the secondary transfer effect. The secondary transfer effect (STE) refers to the generalisation of the effects of intergroup contact from the encountered outgroup to outgroups that do not involve in the contact situation. Therefore, it is a promising and effective strategy for prejudice reduction, particularly in ethnically, racially, and religiously segregated societies. In this article, we aim to review the STE literature and extend previous reviews by focusing on the problems in the STE. We first review evidence on the STE of positive versus negative contact, and then we highlight the relevant underlying mechanism of the phenomenon, i.e., mediators and moderators of the STE. Third, we underline the problems that may limit the robustness of the phenomenon and the research gap in the STE literature. Finally, in line with the current issues with the theory, research and practice, we present suggestions for future research.

Close to me: The importance of closeness versus superficiality in explaining the positive‐negative contact asymmetry

AbstractThe evidence for differential effects of positive and negative intergroup contact on prejudice is mixed. We propose that the closeness of the relationships respondents have with contact partners can explain inconsistencies in previous findings. In three studies (total N = 953), we tested the associations between positive intimate, negative intimate, positive superficial, and negative superficial contact and attitudes toward different outgroups (immigrants and gay people). We hypothesized that: (H1) the effect of positive contact would be maximized in intimate interactions; (H2) the effect of negative contact would be maximized in superficial interactions; (H3) positive intimate and negative superficial contact would have similar power in predicting attitudes. Results always supported H1, and supported H2 and H3 only with immigrants. Findings held also when controlling for category salience and agreeableness, but not for social dominance orientation, which instead strengthened the effect of negative superficial contact. Overall, findings clarify the positive–negative contact asymmetry.

The effects of positive contact and negative contact on intergroup relations

The effects of positive contact and negative contact on intergroup relations

Understanding the psychological mechanisms that constrain the transfer of dialogue effects

An intrinsic component of evaluating the success of a dialogue programme is the concept of transfer. This refers to the means by which the effects of dialogue extend beyond the immediate participants to their wider social groups and go on to influence broader societal and policy change. In this paper I am interested in exploring, from a psychological perspective, why positive dialogue effects at an individual level (i.e., the micro level) sometimes fail to motivate future positive behaviour in the local social milieu (i.e., the meso level). This failure of dialogue effects to permeate beyond the immediate group can mean that transfer is limited, thus raising questions about the effectiveness of dialogue interventions. Drawing on psychological research that looks at mechanisms of indirect contact (whereby positive effects of contact with an out-group member spread beyond the immediate setting) I propose that a factor which might hinder the process of transfer is a cognitive bias called vicarious moral licensing. I propose that by understanding the psychological mechanisms that stymie the transfer of individual attitudinal change in to group behavioural outcomes, one can better address the crucial question of how to maximise the degree of transfer following from dialogue

Ageism and aging anxiety among young adults: relationships with contact, knowledge, fear of death, and optimism

ABSTRACTAgeism refers to discrimination against individuals based on age, while aging anxiety is defined as fear about getting older. We were interested in whether ageism and aging anxiety had distinct correlates among young adults. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects that knowledge of aging, contact with older adults, fear of death, and optimism have on ageism and aging anxiety in young adults (N = 623). Knowledge of aging and contact with older adults were associated with lower ageism. Aging anxiety was associated with greater fear of death and lower optimism. Results indicate that the positive effects of contact and knowledge on the attitudes of young adults toward the older adult population. Increased education on the aging process and improving quality of contact with older adults could help reduce ageism and ageing anxiety.

Staying in touch with nature and well-being in different income groups: The experience of urban parks in Bogotá

Studies on the positive effects of contact with nature have been mainly conducted in European countries, North America, and Australia, whereas the experience of nature for people living in other countries is still to be adequately investigated. Investigation of the beneficial effects of nature is particularly important in dense urban areas characterized by heavy environmental stress-related problems, like crowding and noise, and for people suffering from income-related well-being inequalities. To contribute to filling this gap, the present study investigated the effects of contact with urban parks on well-being among residents in Bogotá, Colombia. A questionnaire was administered to an opportunistic sample of 398 respondents (300 of which were completed and used in the analyses) in parks located in three districts differing in socio-economic status. The residents of these districts were representative of the upper, middle, and lower income groups. The questions asked about the use of green areas and related psychological variables, such as human-nature interdependence, connectedness to nature, perceived restorative and affective qualities attributed to the park, emotions experienced, and overall well-being derived from the park experience. The results showed higher levels of well-being for people in the middle-income group and a relevant role of nature-related activities and psychological variables in explaining such beneficial outcomes. Differences in the mechanisms leading to well-being also emerged for the three income groups. Theoretical and practical implications of the study are discussed.

The role of contact partners’ gender in moderating the effect of positive contact on intergroup attitudes: A theoretical framework

Decades of research have indicated that positive contact with sexual minorities is reliably associated with reduced sexual prejudice among heterosexuals (see Pettigrew & Tropp, 2006; Smith, Axelton, & Saucier, 2009). Despite this extensive literature, the gender of contact partners has been largely overlooked. In the present article, we propose a novel theoretical framework to argue that the relationship between positive contact and intergroup attitudes may vary as functions of the gender of the heterosexual contact partners (i.e., heterosexual men versus heterosexual women) and the gender of the sexual minority contact partners (i.e., gay men versus lesbian women). Drawing on research examining core moderators of contact effects (Hodson, 2011; Hodson, Costello, & MacInnis, 2013) and gender differences in attitudes toward gay men and lesbian women (Herek, 2000a; Kite & Whitley, 1996; LaMar & Kite, 1998), we contend that for heterosexual men, positive contact with gay men might be more effective in improving intergroup attitudes than positive contact with lesbian women. Conversely, for heterosexual women, the beneficial effect of positive contact with lesbian women might be more pronounced than the beneficial effect of positive contact with gay men. We also propose that attitudes toward gender-role violations, knowledge about the out-group, empathy, and intergroup anxiety should emerge as the key mediators of the positive contact-intergroup attitudes relationship.

Seeing and Holding Baby: Systematic Review of Clinical Management and Parental Outcomes After Stillbirth.

In 2009 there were an estimated 2.6 million stillbirths worldwide. In the United States, a 2007 systematic review found little consensus about professional behaviors perceived by parents to be most helpful or most distressing. In the United Kingdom, a bereaved parents' organization has highlighted discordance between parental views and clinical guidelines that recommend clinicians do not encourage parents to see and hold their baby. The objective of this review was to identify and synthesize available research reporting parental outcomes relating to seeing and holding. We undertook a systematic review. We included studies of any design, reporting parental experiences and outcomes. Electronic searches (PubMed and PsychINFO) were conducted in January 2014. Three authors independently screened and assessed the quality of the studies before abstracting data and undertaking thematic analysis. We reviewed 741 records and included 23 studies (10 quantitative, 12 qualitative, and 1 mixed-method). Twenty-one studies suggested positive outcomes for parents who saw or held their baby. Increased psychological morbidity was associated with current pregnancy, choice not to see their baby, lack of time with their baby and/or insufficient mementos. Three themes were formulated "positive effects of contact within a traumatic life event," "importance of role of health professionals," and "impact on mothers and fathers: similarities and differences." Stillbirth is a risk factor for increased psychological morbidity. Parents seeing and holding their stillborn baby can be beneficial to their future well-being. Since 2007, there has been a proliferation of studies that challenge clinical guidelines recommending that clinicians do not encourage parental contact.

Introduction to the special issue on Positive and Environmental Psychology / Introducción al número especial Psicología Ambiental y Positiva

This special issue of Psyecology examines the interface between environmental psychology and positive psychology, by studying the way in which psychological positivity is attained through exposure to certain environmental conditions. It also investigates how psychological positivity is capable of stimulating care and conservation of the socio-physical environment. The papers included in this issue look at theoretical models of environmental positivity in the family, the positive effects of contact with nature on children, the relationship between psychological wellbeing and a frugal use of natural resources, the positive communication of issues related with global climate change, the factors of psychological positivity contained in a positive job environment, and the effects of preference for trees on human wellbeing. The contents reflect relationships of interdependency between environmental and psychological positivity, which become a hugely interesting research issue for studies in human behaviour.

Achievements of the British Colonial Service: A Retrospective View

This article looks back on the record of the British Colonial Service in Africa, with a particular focus on how it ran Zambia immediately prior to its independence in 1964. The author, a member of that service, argues that, for all their faults, British colonial administrators discharged their duties with dedication, skill and the welfare of the general population in mind. There is, he notes, a need for a better understanding of the positive effects of contact between cultures that British colonial rule engendered in societies such as Zambia.

Tearing down the ‘Wall in the head’? Culture contact between Germans

Abstract Culture contact theory proposes that contact between individuals from different cultures has positive effects on individuals. The re-unification of the two German parts in 1990 allowed an opportunity to test this theory in a ‘naturalistic’ quasi-experiment. People in both parts were socialized into different socio-cultural systems with different values and expectations and now are faced with problems of culture shock and re-adjustment. Expanding previous work that has investigated prejudices and inter-group attitudes as outcome variables of contact, the present study focuses on personal outcome variables. A three-wave longitudinal survey of East and West Germans between 1996 and 2000 reveals generally positive effects of contact on well-being and various measures of satisfaction, although conditions are not very favourable for contact. For example, the continuing disadvantage of East Germans leads to negative effects on some dimensions, because contact makes this disadvantage salient. Overall, effects of contact are stronger and more beneficial for the minority East Germans, compared to majority West Germans. Implications for culture contact in the context of Germany and the EU enlargement are discussed.

Contact between Children Placed Away from Home and their Birth Parents: Research Issues and Evidence

The importance of maintaining contact between children temporarily or permanently looked after away from their birth parents is now believed to be so important to their psychosocial development as to be written into the Children Act. This position has been argued both on the basis of the rights of children and birth parents and on the claimed strength of the research evidence concerning the positive effects of contact and the negative consequences of its absence. The quality of the research evidence is reviewed. It is concluded that evidence on either the beneficial or adverse effects of contact is not strong and that the design and/or analysis of existing studies contain a number of weaknesses that preclude clear research-based guidance to practitioners.