Exploring the role of intergroup metaperceptions in contact and intergroup relations

In the existing social psychological literature, there is substantial focus on how to improve intergroup relations via intergroup contact. Most relevant research has considered contact as the starting point of subsequent relations, with less emphasis on understanding factors that promote or inhibit engagement in intergroup contact. In this talk, I outline a programme of research on how people’s (meta-)perceptions predict (or are associated with) contact experiences. Specifically, I integrate pluralistic ignorance and metaperception premises, and apply them to intergroup relations and dehumanization research. I present evidence from various correlational and experimental studies on how people’s thoughts and concerns regarding the ingroup and the outgroup relate to intergroup contact, and discuss the findings in the context of emerging intergroup relations research trends.