Effect of Imagined Contact Approach on Intergroup Attitude and its Application Exploration

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K20298
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0110:Psychology and related fields
• Research Institution: Ibaraki University
• Principal Investigator: Hu Anqi 茨城大学, 全学教育機構, 助教 (00909731)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-08-30 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 仮想接触 / 代理接触 / 接触仮説 / 偏見 / 対外集団態度 / コミュニケーション不安 / 異文化コミュニケーション

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study revealed that the imagined contact approach was useful in improving prejudice and intergroup attitudes among Japanese and its effects lasted even outside the laboratory. It was also shown that the imagined contact approach reduced anxiety toward outgroup and improved intercultural communication skills during the direct contact experience. Furthermore, a vicarious contact approach developed by applying the imagined contact scenario was suggested to reduce communication anxiety with outgroup members through social learning and to learn friendly intergroup interaction behaviors. The findings of this study are expected to make a significant contribution not only to the promotion of internationalization but also to the construction of a healthier multicultural society.

Free Research Field

異文化心理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は仮想接触アプローチが日本人の持つ対外集団態度改善,接触意欲の向上などにつながることを示した。また,国際教育現場での応用可能性について模索し,友好的な直接接触の促しにつながることを示唆した。さらに,仮想接触アプローチを行動レベルに影響を及ぼす形に発展させるため,代理接触アプローチとして応用・開発し,その効果についても明らかにした。本研究で得られた知見は，国際化促進のみならず，より健全な多文化共生社会の構築にも大きく貢献できることが期待される。