Extended Contact through Story Reading in Turkish Cypriot Children

Extended contact is a kind of indirect intergroup contact strategy that can be used in contexts where the opportunity for real contact is low. The effectiveness of extended contact strategy through story-telling was investigated in the present research with the aim of enhancing positive attitudes, intended behaviors, trust and forgiveness toward the Greek Cypriot out-group and also support for peace in Turkish Cypriot children. The second aim was to examine the roles of prior contact and age on these variables. Turkish Cypriot children (N = 40) including 18 boys and 22 girls, aged 6-11 (mean age = 8 years) took part in a 5 week story reading intervention. Stories portrayed the close friendship between Turkish and Greek Cypriot children. Results revealed that extended contact intervention through story reading led to enhanced positive out-group attitudes, behavioral intentions, out-group trust, forgiveness and support for peace in Turkish Cypriot children. The findings of the study suggest that extended contact can be used in segregated and conflicted contexts as an effective tool to reduce prejudice in children. Implications of an educational program within the context of Cyprus are discussed.