Harmonious Contact: Stories About Intergroup Musical Collaboration Improve Intergroup Attitudes: Harmonious Contact
Author(s):
Jake Harwood
Farah Qadar
Chien-Yu Chen
Publication Year:
2016
Type:
journal article
Journal/Book Title
Journal of Communication
Publisher
Editor(s):
Pages:
937-959
Volume:
66
Issue:
6
Abstract:
Watching contact between members of one’s ingroup and members of an outgroup in the media (mediated vicarious contact) improves intergroup attitudes. We compare mediated vicarious contact with observing only members of the outgroup (parasocial contact), and examine whether the activity of the portrayed contact matters. Building on theory, we predict that watching outgroup members playing music should reduce prejudice more than watching them engaged in nonmusical activities, particularly with vicarious (vs. parasocial) contact. Results show that vicarious musical contact enhances perceptions of synchronization, liking, and honesty between ingroup and outgroup actors in a video, which in turn results in more positive attitudes toward the outgroup. Counter to predictions, parasocial musical contact results in less positive outcomes than parasocial nonmusical contact.
Citation (Chicago Author-Date):
Harwood, Jake, Farah Qadar, and Chien-Yu Chen. 2016. “Harmonious Contact: Stories About Intergroup Musical Collaboration Improve Intergroup Attitudes: Harmonious Contact.” Journal of Communication 66 (6): 937–59. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcom.12261.