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Of babies and bathwater, and rabbits and rabbit holes: A plea for conflict prevention, not conflict promotion

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2012

Miles Hewstone ,
Hermann Swart  and
Gordon Hodson
Miles Hewstone
Affiliation:
Department of Experimental Psychology, Oxford University, Oxford OX1 3UD, United Kingdom. [email protected]://hewstone.socialpsychology.org/
Hermann Swart
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, Stellenbosch, 7206South Africa. [email protected]://sun025.sun.ac.za/portal/page/portal/Arts/Departments/psychology/staff/hswart
Gordon Hodson
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, Canada. [email protected]://brocku.ca/psychology/people/hodson.htm
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Abstract

Dixon et al. overlook the fact that contact predicts not only favorable out-group attitudes/evaluations, but also cognitions, affect, and behavior. The weight of evidence supporting the benefits of intergroup contact cautions against throwing the (contact) baby out with the bathwater. The goal to “ignite struggles” in pursuit of social equality, we argue, incautiously risks hurling us down the proverbial rabbit hole.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 35 , Issue 6 , December 2012 , pp. 436 - 437
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012 

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