Interpretation Biases in Intergroup Contact (SegerCU19PSY)

Engaging in positive contact with an outgroup member reduces prejudice toward that group, and people who report more positive contact with outgroups tend to have more positive attitudes. However, the thousand or so studies on intergroup contact have neglected one critically important aspect of real-world contact: How people interpret their intergroup contact experiences. How do previous experiences, social norms, attitudes, and cognitive biases affect how people interpret and experience real-time intergroup contact situations? How does this influence attitudes towards entire social groups? Can individuals’ biases and prejudices lead them to interpret objectively positive or neutral contact situations as negative, either in real-time or retrospectively?

Project Start Date: Oct 2019
Mode of Study: Either full-time or part-time
Acceptable First Degree: Psychology or closely related field
Minimum Entry Requirements: UK 2:1; 60% in Masters in psychological research methods, or equivalent experience, required.