A model is presented that traces the origins of the anxiety people experience when interacting with outgroup members to fear of negative psychological or behavioral consequences for the self and fear of negative evaluations by ingroup or outgroup members. Prior relations between the groups, intergroup cognitions, the structure of the situation, and personal experience are hypothesized to determine the amount of anxiety that participants in intergroup interactions experience. It is proposed that high levels of intergroup anxiety amplify normative behavior patterns, cause cognitive and motivational information‐processing biases, intensify self‐awareness, lead to augmented emotional reactions, and polarize evaluations of outgroup members. Regression analyses of data from Hispanic students indicate that high levels of intergroup anxiety are associated with low levels of contact with outgroup members, stereotyping of outgroup members, and assumed dissimilarity to outgroup members.

No abstract

No abstract

The overwhelming majority of intercultural interactions are impacted by real or perceived intercultural threats. Most of these threats are either realistic (concern about potentially negative tangible outcomes) or symbolic (concern about potential threat to the ingroup's values, norms, or beliefs). Perceptions of threat are caused by prior or current intercultural relations, personality traits, and other personal characteristics (e.g., ingroup identity), negative attitudes toward the other cultural group and related negative cognitions, lack of prior personal contact with individuals from the other culture, and situational factors (e.g., competition between the cultural groups). When threats are perceived to exist, they can lead to negative emotional and physiological reactions, negative attitudes and intercultural biases, negative verbal and nonverbal behaviors, and overt hostile behavior. This entry ends with a discussion of techniques that could be used to reduce the negative effects of intercultural threats on intercultural interactions.

No abstract

A theory of intergroup anxiety is presented and the relevance of intergroup anxiety to intercultural interaction is discussed. First, a definition of intergroup anxiety is provided, followed by a discussion of its three components. Next, its antecedents and consequences are examined along with recent literature to support them. Then intergroup relations programs and techniques that have been successful in reducing intergroup anxiety are presented, and research on factors that have successfully decreased intergroup prejudice are explored. This information is used to make suggestions for developing intergroup anxiety reduction programs. Finally, important issues that should be addressed in future intergroup anxiety research are noted.

No abstract

No abstract