Imagining Intergroup Contact Can Combat Mental Health Stigma by Reducing Anxiety, Avoidance and Negative Stereotyping

Stathi, Sofia; Tsantila, Katerina; Crisp, Richard J.

Abstract

Research has demonstrated widespread negative attitudes held toward people with mental health problems. Our study investigated whether a new prejudice reduction technique, imagined intergroup contact (Crisp & Turner, 2009 Crisp, R. J. and Turner, R. N. 2009. Can imagined interactions produce positive perceptions? Reducing prejudice through simulated social contact. American Psychologist, 64: 231–240. doi:10.1037/a0014718 [Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®], [Google Scholar] ), could combat stigma against people with mental illness, and the mediating processes through which it may exert this beneficial effect. We found that compared to a control condition, participants who imagined a positive encounter with a schizophrenic person reported weakened stereotypes and formed stronger intentions to engage in future social interactions with schizophrenic people in general. Importantly, these intentions were formed due to reduced feelings of anxiety about future interactions. We discuss the implications of these findings for improving the social inclusion of people with mental health problems.

Citation

Stathi, S., Tsantila, K., & Crisp, R. J. (2012). Imagining Intergroup Contact Can Combat Mental Health Stigma by Reducing Anxiety, Avoidance and Negative Stereotyping. The Journal of Social Psychology, 152(6), 746-757. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2012.697080

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 22, 2012
• Online Publication Date: Jun 4, 2012
• Publication Date: 2012
• Deposit Date: Aug 23, 2017
• Journal: Journal of Social Psychology
• Print ISSN: 0022-4545
• Electronic ISSN: 1940-1183
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 152
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 746-757
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2012.697080
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1370435