Reducing Prejudice and Discrimination
Scholars have developed a wide range of approaches to reducing prejudice and discrimination, many of which have been successfully implemented in schools, workplaces, and community settings. Research on intergroup contact suggests that contact between members of different groups—particularly when that contact is warm and positive (for example, through friendships)—reduces negative emotional reactions (e.g., anxiety) and promotes positive emotions (e.g., empathy), leading to more positive attitudes toward members of that group. One might expect that, in an increasingly connected world characterized by global mobility and diversity, higher levels of contact would be associated with a significant reduction in prejudice and discrimination.