Newswise — Recent research reveals that establishing positive connections with individuals from diverse groups can significantly reduce the formation of harmful intergroup conspiracy beliefs. The University of Nottingham's School of Psychology, in collaboration with the University of East Anglia, spearheaded this study, which specifically targeted British participants. The results, published in the European Journal of Social Psychology, highlighted how positive intergroup contact played a crucial role in thwarting the development of conspiracy theories related to different social groups.
Dr. Daniel Jolley, a social psychologist leading the research at the University of Nottingham, emphasized the importance of addressing intergroup conspiracy theories due to their potential to fuel misinformed voting patterns and extreme prejudice expressions. The research team conducted three comprehensive studies involving over 1,000 participants. The first two studies focused on relationships, with British participants being asked about their interactions with immigrants (Study 1) or Jewish people (Study 2) and their corresponding beliefs in conspiracy theories about these groups.
In the third study, participants were instructed to recall a positive experience they had with a Jewish person and then subsequently report any conspiracy beliefs they held about this particular group. Throughout all three studies, participants also reported their feelings of prejudice towards the target group under examination. These findings offer valuable insights into the significant role that positive intergroup contact can play in mitigating the development of harmful intergroup conspiracy beliefs.The study revealed a compelling link between higher-quality positive contact with Jewish people or immigrants, or even imagining such positive interactions, and a reduced inclination to believe conspiracy theories about these groups. Remarkably, this effect persisted even after considering any negative feelings participants might have harbored towards the target group, highlighting that the impact is not merely a result of reducing existing prejudices.
Dr. Jolley underscores the significance of these research findings, as they offer a promising starting point for developing interventions to bring together diverse groups who might not usually have contact. By fostering positive conversations, such efforts can potentially diminish the grip of harmful conspiracy theories.
While the issues surrounding conspiracy theories are undoubtedly complex and multifaceted, the discovery of the potential of positive intergroup contact in reducing conspiracy beliefs represents a noteworthy breakthrough. The research provides a framework that, with further exploration and investigation, holds the promise of mitigating conspiracy beliefs within the broader population.
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