Contact hypothesis depicts that under appropriate circumstances and conditions, intergroup contact can potentially reduce prejudice and other related issues between minority and majority group members. As such, contact hypothesis forecasts that racial prejudice significantly diminishes when non-whites and whites interact in an environment or setting that highly regards cooperation especially amongst people of somewhat equal status. I strongly agree with the precepts of the contact hypothesis, and I opine that it is an instrumental tool especially towards reducing intergroup conflicts and prejudice.
The theory posits that contact under various circumstances like institutional support, equal status, cooperation towards a common and superordinate goal significantly helps to create positive interracial and intergroup encounters. It thus fosters great improvement in intergroup interactions and overall relations (Amichai-Hamburger & McKenna, 2017). In this regard, I agree with the theory’s position, and in my opinion, racial prejudice and discrimination can be significantly reduced by the creation of constant contacts and also true acquaintances across different groups and races.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
I particularly agree with the precepts of contact hypothesis theory mainly based on various examples from past personal experiences. In one instance, our class conducted randomized group discussions and experiments, whereby each group constituted students from different interracial affiliations. The three-week discussion sessions critically reaffirmed the theory of contact hypothesis, as racial prejudice, segregation and overall avoidance diminished by significant proportions. The intergroup contact underscored the advantages of positive interaction especially amongst members of communities that are historically divided. During and after the discussions, students drawn from different backgrounds engaged and shared positively, thus affirming that there was more to gain than lose in contact and unification.
In conclusion, the contact hypothesis is a compelling theory that exponentially helps to reduce intergroup prejudice. As such, it is essential to maintain a positive perspective on the precepts of the argument. In my opinion, it can be used as a useful model of promoting equality, social change, tolerance, and inclusivity, especially in historically unequal and divided societies.
References
Amichai-Hamburger, Y., & McKenna, K. (2017). The Contact Hypothesis Reconsidered. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication .
