The Contact Hypothesis and Attitudes Toward Latinos in the United States

Abstract

Objectives. Although the contact hypothesis occupies an important place in the study of intergroup relations, several important questions remain understudied. We contribute to the literature by examining the associations between multiple aspects of contact with Latinos and several types of attitudes toward U.S. Latinos, including attitudes toward immigration restrictions. Methods. We use OLS and logistic regression techniques to analyze the opinions of Anglo (non-Hispanic white) and African-American respondents from the 2000 NORC General Social Survey (GSS), which contained a special module on attitudes regarding ethnicity and diversity issues. Results. Our findings reveal a clear association between close nonkin Latino ties, that is, friendship, and more favorable or empathetic attitudes toward Latinos as well as less restrictive or punitive views concerning immigration policy. Having Latino relatives is also linked with several of these attitudes. Most other dimensions of contact (e.g., attending high schools with significant Latino populations, having Latino acquaintances, Spanish-language fluency, and residing in areas with relatively high Latino populations) have at least some association with the attitudes under study, although for most of these contact measures the significance of the effects is inconsistent across outcomes. Conclusions. The findings reinforce the significance of intergroup friendships and underscore the importance of understanding their social origins, patterning, and consequences for diverse groups. It is also important to probe the differential effects of specific types and arenas of intergroup contact on specific attitudinal and policy outcomes.The contact hypothesis has occupied an important place in the literature on race-ethnic intergroup relations for more than 50 years (Allport, 1958;Williams, 1947). The core idea is simple and straightforward: contact, particularly close and sustained contact, with members of other cultural groups provides direct information about the values, lifestyles, and experiences of members of those groups. Information obtained in this way is likely to be more favorable and accurate than information gained through other, less * Direct correspondence (including requests for data and coding for replication purposes) to Christopher G. Ellison,

Warmth of the Welcome: Attitudes Toward Immigrants and Immigration Policy in the United States

“…While contact theory developed from experimental research, survey research supports its generalizability (Pettigrew 1998; Pettigrew and Tropp 2011). In surveys, respondents with cross-racial friendships report lower levels of prejudice (Emerson, Kimbro, and Yancey 2002; Ellison, Shin, and Leal 2011), as do those living in more racially and ethnically integrated neighborhoods (Oliver and Wong 2003). However, while the effect of living in a more diverse neighborhood reduces prejudice, living in a more diverse metropolitan area increases it (Fosset and Kiecolt 1989; Quillian 1996; Taylor 1998).…”

Explaining Attitudes toward Immigration: The Role of Regional Context and Individual Predispositions

“…A meta-analysis of 551 studies conducted in 38 different countries found evidence for a significant negative effect of intergroup contact on social prejudice in over 90 per cent of the studies sampled (Pettigrew and Tropp 2008). Further, focusing on immigration, Schneider (2008) and Ellison et al (2011) each find that intergroup contact or personal relationships with immigrants can increase the acceptance of immigrants among natives, with Schneider (2008: 60) noting that people who experienced intergroup contact feel 'less threatened by immigrants than others'.…”

Redefining Neighborhoods Using Common Destinations: Social Characteristics of Activity Spaces and Home Census Tracts Compared

“…Our objective is to assess the degree to which people encounter groups other than their own , as part of their routine activities. Racial/ethnic and income segregation are important, in part, because contact among social groups may have important effects on a person’s assumptions about, and attitudes toward, other social groups and how they live (Chaskin and Joseph 2011; DiPrete et al 2011; Ellison et al 2011; Pettigrew 2008; Rocha and Espino 2010). These assumptions and attitudes may be important for social solidarity, political behavior, and many other aspects of urban life.…”

“…The intergroup contact literature suggests that contact between social groups may decrease prejudice and negative assumptions particularly assumptions—that advantaged groups hold toward out-groups (Ellison et al 2011; Lee et al 2004; Pettigrew and Tropp 2008; Tropp and Pettigrew 2005). This literature has traditionally focused on white prejudice toward racial and ethnic minority groups.…”