The role of imagined contact on attitudes towards Syrians

Intergroup Contact Theory proposes that social contact between different groups can significantly lead to changes in attitudes towards out-groups. Hence, it is aimed to investigate the reasons and consequences of attitudes towards outgroups within the framework of Intergroup Contact Theory in this research. In the light of these purposes, the effect of imagined contact, which is the one of indirect form of contact, and social status of contact target on intergroup threat, intergroup anxiety, future contact intentions towards out-group members and social distance are examined. The sample of the study consists of 201 university students in total (91 males, 110 females). Seven different experimental conditions are created by manipulating imagined contact and social status of contact target. The participants are asked to imagine having a positive interaction with a Syrian in which they learn new and interesting things about the his/her life and experiences. Subsequently, the explicit measurements pertaining to intergroup threat, intergroup anxiety, future contact intentions towards out-group members and social distance are taken. Results of two-way multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) show that imagined contact has a significant main effect on all dependent variables. Social status of contact target has no significant main effect on intergroup threat and intergroup anxiety, but has a significant main effect on future contact intentions towards out-group members. It is shown social status of contact target also has a marginal main effect on social distance. Imagined contact and social status of contact target has no interaction effect on any dependent variables. In addition, vividness of imagined contact conditions significantly differ. Findings are discussed in consideration of the literature. Keywords: Intergroup Contact, Indirect Contact, Imagined Contact, Social Status, Social Distance.