Contact Hypothesis
What is the Contact Hypothesis?
The contact hypothesis, also known as intergroup contact theory, suggests that prejudice can be reduced by exposing individuals to members of different social groups. Developed primarily by psychologist Gordon Allport, the theory outlines four key conditions that optimize the success of intergroup contact: equal status, common goals, intergroup collaboration, and support from authorities. When these conditions are present, intergroup contact is more likely to reduce hostility and foster mutual understanding.
The Basic Idea
Due to funding cuts, two rival basketball teams had to merge—one from a wealthier suburb and the other from a less affluent neighborhood. Tensions ran high in the weeks leading up to their first game, and it showed on the court. Players were refusing to pass each other the ball, trash-talking each other after mistakes, and parents exchanged snide remarks on the sidelines.
It was such a disaster that the coach called a meeting: “Either you start working together, or you're not playing at all!” One thing united every player in that room: their love for basketball. “You're lucky we get to play on a team,” the coach reminded them. Slowly, things began to shift. They started training harder, strategizing, and celebrating together. With a roster combining the best talent from both areas, the team became unstoppable. One parent even admitted, “I used to see her as an outsider, but now she’s just the point guard.”
Most of us can recall similar experiences—maybe we were initially skeptical of someone or something, but as we became more familiar, we realized our assumptions were unfounded. This basketball anecdote highlights the contact hypothesis, first introduced by Gordon Allport, which suggests that intergroup contact can reduce hostility and prejudice given that certain criteria (equal status, common goals, intergroup cooperation, and support from authorities) are met. While players came from different backgrounds and socioeconomic statuses, they shared (1) equal status on the court as teammates. Secondly, they were in pursuit of a (2) common goal: winning games and keeping the team alive. Because basketball is a team sport, (3) intergroup cooperation wasn't optional; it was crucial. Finally, (4) support from an authority figure, the coach, facilitated the shift in attitude, and eventually, support from parents may have the same effect.1
Contact between groups can disrupt rigid categorical thinking and encourage individualized and nuanced perception of a stereotyped group member. Often, members of an in-group may interpret members of an out-group as threatening simply due to unfamiliarity. Engaging in positive intergroup contact can make people feel more secure and comfortable in their interactions, leading people to see out-group members as individuals rather than representatives of a category, increasing their willingness to engage across group lines and empathize.1
“What is familiar tends to become a value.”
— Gordon Allport, The Nature of Prejudice 2
About the Author
Lauren Strano
Lauren is a Summer Content Intern at The Decision Lab and a full-time undergraduate student at McGill University, where she studies Psychology, Communications, and Behavioral Science. She is particularly interested in human motivation and performance psychology, with a focus on how cognitive biases and environmental factors influence goal pursuit and behavioral outcomes.
