Publication details
Kontaktní hypotéza v odborné literatuře pojednávající o interetnických vztazích
| Title in English | Contact Hypothesis in Scientific Literature about Interethnic Relations |
|---|---|
| Authors | |
| Year of publication | 2007 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Rexter - časopis pro výzkum radikalismu, extremismu a terorismu |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Web | http://www.rexter.cz/clanek.aspx?id=87 |
| Field | Sociology, demography |
| Keywords | contact hypothesis; prejudices; ethnic minorities |
| Description | In this article we summarize information about contact hypothesis, an important theory in the sociology of racial and ethnic relations which influenced many studies as well as policies in the USA and Europe. The contact hypothesis was developed after the Second World War and supposes that intergroup contacts lead to a decrease of prejudices that originate in the ignorance of the "other" groups and help to eliminate discrimination. Allport, the most important representative of contact hypothesis, stated conditions of the most effective contact. Among the most significant ones are: the same status of people during the contact, common objectives, mutual cooperation and support of contact by authorities, laws and customs. Many other conditions were added eventually. Scientists also concentrate on mechanisms of how the hypothesis functions and they studied for example the generalisation of the experience with one individual onto the whole group. Although, many studies were inspired by the contact hypothesis, their results are not always unequivocal. They often depend on the situation of contact. The critics blame the contact scientists of taking into consideration only individual characteristics and forgetting to analyse structural factors. |
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