A Paradigm for the Study of Intergroup Interactions

Contact between members of two different groups can lead to anxiety and discomfort in interactions. In this experiment, eighty non-Black undergraduate college students were led to believe that they interacted with both a Black and White male via video email. During the interaction, analysis of the participants’ verbal and nonverbal behaviors were measured for signs of discomfort and negativity as a function of racial attitudes. A priming measure of attitudes and a motivation to control prejudice reactions scale were completed in earlier sessions. Participants showed more discomfort interacting with the Black male confederate than the White male confederate, especially participants with negative racial attitudes who were motivated to control prejudiced reactions. The consequence of this discomfort may have an important impact on the quality of intergroup contact