abstract: This dissertation investigated positive intergroup contact and communication in the experiences of fans at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Guided by concepts from Intergroup Contact Theory (ICT), formerly Allport’s (1954) Contact Hypothesis, I asked fans to identify and discuss factors that were relevant to their experiences at the event. These factors are reported in previous literature to foster positive intergroup relations. The fan participants also provided detailed, experience-based rationales for why and how the factors supported each other and created individual models of their experiences of ICT at the Olympics. The study relied on participant-centered, in-depth qualitative interviews using Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) software. Based on an integration of ICT, communication theories, social capital concepts, and calls from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and mega-sporting event industry, the dissertation sought to answer four research questions. It started with a broad approach to the array of previous scholars’ ICT factors in order to identify what factors were present and relevant in fans’ experiences. It also sought to understand why and how the factors worked together by analyzing the ways factors related to and supported each other in Olympic fans’ experiences and producing a composite meta-structure of the factors’ relationships. Additionally, through thematic analysis, the research explored where and when in fans’ experiences the factors emerged and were active. Finally, the study identified the functions that each ICT factor served in fostering positive intergroup contact and communication and offered suggestions for practitioners and organizers of intergroup contexts. The study aimed to make theoretical contributions by addressing gaps and calls in ICT literature, as well as practical contributions by providing insight about how to organize intergroup contexts to foster positive contact and communication. In addition to addressing its research questions, the study provided a comprehensive list of previous scholars’ ICT factors, a preliminary, tentative model of ICT for ideal intergroup contexts adapted from Pettigrew’s (1998) model of group membership transformation for problematic contexts, and promising future directions given the unique, ideal, and unexplored features of the Olympics. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Communication 2017

Xenophobia ‘fear and hatred of strangers’ has become part of the international humanitarian agenda with the increased human mobility due to complex emergencies. Nevertheless, there is a knowledge gap in how to address such a complex social problem. Xenophobia has become evident in Colombia, and the UNHCR has responded with the media campaign ‘Somos Panas Colombia’, with the objective to reduce it and promote solidarity toward Venezuelan migrants. My research objective is to identify the social dynamics between the host communities and migrants in this context; then to understand how the UNHCR campaign can interact with these dynamics. The dynamics are categorized into dividers and connectors, through the Do No Harm approach, and discussed from social psychology perspectives. In this manner, we can distinguish which factors can be strengthened, and which can be weakened through campaign activities. Furthermore, in order to identify the optimal conditions for encouraging positive group interactions, the research employs the framework of the Intergroup Contact theory, which suggests that contact under the conditions of equality, common goals, cooperation and institutional support typically reduces prejudice. Such conditions strengthen a common ingroup identity that could include both Venezuelans and Colombians. This systematic thinking undergirds the analysis to understand how to most effectively reduce intergroup tensions and xenophobia, as well as how not to exacerbate it. My findings are that real structural factors, like pressure on the social service systems, combined with perceptions of these to be threatened, exacerbated by media reporting, divide the communities; whilst common interests and values, highlighted by the civil society and credible opinion leaders who display tolerant and positive relationships with migrants help to connect them. Finally, I conclude that the UNHCR has broadly identified the intergroup dynamics and has the potential of effectively addressing them through the campaign content strategies of sending rational-emotional messages that induce empathy and activates solidary behavior, and the communication strategy of building partnerships to reach target populations in an effective manner.

Interreligious peacebuilding is one of the oldest methods used in peacebuilding around the world, as religion is often one key factor in war and used both to fuel conflicts or to promote peace and co-existence. However, the use of interreligious dialogue in post-conflict societies is still not fully understood and researcher has still not encapsulated its different components. The purpose of this study was therefore to provide understanding of the use of interreligious dia-logue in a highly sectarian societies as contemporary Lebanon is. Therefore, to explore and contribute to this research field, I conducted semi-structured interviewees with a local peace-building organisation in Lebanon. The findings were analysis with an analytical framework, based on intergroup contact theory and research methods on religious dialogue. This study il-lustrated the challenges and opportunities Lebanese peacebuilders face when conducting dia-logues in a very religiously divided society. The findings presented that the affective and cog-nitive effects from interreligious dialogue do varies between individuals depending on their own view on being a majority or minority religion and their own prejudice against other beliefs. Therefore, this paper contributes to new insight on the effects of contact theories relevance in sectarian societies and could be utilised to enhance the peacebuilding efforts in Lebanon.

This thesis contributes to the literature on intergroup contact by exploring the long-term impact of grassroots efforts on members of majority and minority groups involved in an intractable conflict. In such circumstances, the conflict parties’ existential survival is perceived to be at stake, which results in salient group boundaries magnified by competing memories of collective trauma. Drawing empirical support from the Jerusalem Youth Chorus—an Israeli-Palestinian encounter program based in Jerusalem—this paper examines opportunities to desecuritize intergroup relationships from the bottom-up. To this purpose, it scrutinizes Gordon Allport’s Contact Hypothesis and narratives of historical trauma. The findings from 16 semi-structured interviews conducted with alumni participants provide unique insights into the impact of a hybrid approach to contact, with music and dialogue providing fertile ground for sustainably rethinking us-them relations toward greater boundary permeability. They also highlight the scope and the limits of conducting bottom-up “memory work” in a societal context of severe asymmetry. Group-specific results are highlighted.

No description available.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT : Intergroup contact has proven to be one of the most effective ways to reduce prejudice and improve attitudes towards an outgroup (e.g., Allport, 1954; Pettigrew & Tropp, 2006). The present study investigated the extent to which positive intergroup contact (namely cross-group friendships) with coloured South African students are associated with positive attitudes towards not only coloured South Africans in general (the primary outgroup), but also towards black (African) South Africans in general (a secondary outgroup). As such, the present study focused on testing the secondary transfer effect of intergroup contact (Lolliot et al., 2013; Pettigrew, 2009). A quantitative, cross-sectional design was used to explore the secondary transfer effect of intergroup contact via the processes of empathy and attitude generalisation. Data were collected amongst white South African students at Stellenbosch University (N = 551), via an electronic survey. The findings from the present study show that cross-group friendships with coloured South African students (primary outgroup) positively and significantly predicted more positive attitudes towards coloured South Africans in general, and that these effects generalised towards black (African) South Africans in general (secondary outgroup), after controlling for general contact with this secondary outgroup. These findings support the secondary transfer effect of contact. Moreover, the results show that the secondary transfer effect occurs via the processes of empathy and attitude generalisation. This research contributes to the relatively sparse body of literature exploring the secondary transfer effect and the underlying processes mediating this effect. Knowing how positive attitudes generalise from one outgroup to other outgroups could offer practical means for shaping intergroup contact interventions that aim to reduce prejudice and improve intergroup relations, especially in the post-conflict South African context. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Daar is bewys dat intergroep kontak een van die doeltreffendste maniere is om vooroordeel te verminder en houdings teenoor 'n uitgroep te verbeter (b.v., Allport, 1954; Pettigrew & Tropp, 2006). Die huidige studie ondersoek tot watter mate positiewe intergroep kontak (naamlik kruis-groep vriendskappe) met bruin/kleurling Suid-Afrikaanse studente verband hou met positiewe houdings nie net teenoor bruin/kleurling Suid-Afrikaners oor die algemeen nie (die primêre uitgroep), maar ook teenoor swart Suid-Afrikaners in die algemeen (‘n sekondêre uitgroep). Na aanleiding hiervan fokus die huidige studie om die sekondêre oordrag effek van intergroep kontak te toets (Lolliot et al., 2013; Pettigrew, 2009). 'n Kwantitatiewe, deursnee-ontwerp was gebruik om die sekondêre oordrag effek van intergroep kontak te verken, via die prosesse van empatie- en houding-veralgemening. Die data was onder wit Suid-Afrikaanse studente by Stellenbosch Universiteit (N = 551) ingesamel deur middel van ‘n elektroniese vraelys. Die bevindinge van die huidige studie toon dat kruis-groep vriendskappe met bruin/kleurling Suid-Afrikaanse studente (primêre uitgroep) positief en beduidend meer positiewe houdings teenoor bruin/kleurling Suid-Afrikaners in die algemeen voorspel en dat hierdie effekte veralgemeen na swart Suid-Afrikaners in die algemeen (sekondêre uitgroep) nadat daar kontrole gehou is oor die algemene kontak met hierdie sekondêre uitgroep. Hierdie bevindinge ondersteun die sekondêre oordrag effek van intergroep kontak. Die bevindinge bewys ook dat die sekondêre oordrag effek plaasvind deur die prosesse van empatie- en houding-veralgemening. Hierdie navorsing dra by tot die relatief yl beskikbare literatuur wat die sekondêre oordrag effek ondersoek, asook die onderliggende prosesse wat hierdie effek bemiddel. Die wete hoe positiewe houdings van een uitgroep na ander uitgroepe veralgemeen, kan prakties aangewend word tot intergroep kontak intervensies wat poog om vooroordeel te verminder en tussengroep-verhoudings te verbeter, veral in die post-konflik Suid-Afrikaanse konteks.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT : The contact hypothesis (Allport, 1954) provides an established theoretical framework for pursuing positive intergroup relationships (Hewstone & Swart, 2011; Pettigrew & Tropp, 2006) and stipulates certain optimal conditions under which contact reduces prejudice. The secondary transfer effect of contact describes a process whereby attitudes towards outgroups not encountered in the original intergroup encounter might also be improved (Pettigrew, 2009; Pettigrew & Tropp, 2006). A three-wave longitudinal experimental study amongst white South African students at Stellenbosch University (N = 58) was undertaken, using two experimental groups (direct and extended) and a control group. The present study investigated whether direct and extended contact with a black (African) confederate would not only improve attitudes towards black (African) South Africans in general, but also improve attitudes towards Indian South Africans, not involved in the contact situation (i.e., the secondary transfer effect). Findings show that the experimentally manipulated contact reduced intergroup anxiety (from baseline levels measured one week earlier) towards black (African) South Africans. These effects were, however, non-significant, and suggest the present study may have been under-powered. Moreover, the findings showed that experimentally manipulated contact significantly improved outgroup attitudes and outgroup trust (from baseline levels measured one week earlier) towards black (African) South Africans in the direct contact condition, as well as the extended contact condition (outgroup attitudes only). Finally, the present study found significant evidence for the operation of the secondary transfer effect via attitude generalisation. Positive intergroup contact with the black (African) South African confederate predicted a significant change in outgroup attitudes towards black (African) South Africans in general from Time 1 (baseline) to Time 2 (post-task), which in turn predicted more positive attitudes towards Indian South Africans in general at Time 2, controlling for prior quantity and quality of contact with Indian South Africans. The secondary transfer effect was not observed for outgroup trust. The present study contributes to the existing literature on the secondary transfer effect and replicates international findings within the South African context. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Die kontak hipotese (Allport, 1954) bied ʼn gevestigde teoretiese raamwerk vir die voortsetting van positiewe intergroep verhoudings (Hewstone & Swart, 2011; Pettigrew & Tropp, 2006) en bepaal sekere optimale toestande waaronder kontak vooroordeel verminder. Die sekondȇre oordrag effek van kontak beskryf ʼn proses waardeur houdings teenoor buitegroepe wat nie gedurende die oorspronklike intergroep kontak teёgekom is nie, ook verbeter word (Pettigrew, 2009; Pettigrew & Tropp, 2006). ʼn Drie-golf longitudinale eksperimentele studie onder wit Suid-Afrikaanse studente verbonde aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch (N = 58) is onderneem, met behulp van twee eksperimentele groepe (direkte en uitgebreide) en ʼn kontrole groep (N = 16). Die huidige studie het ondersoek of direkte en uitgebreide kontak met ʼn swart (Afrikaan) Suid-Afrikaner nie net houdings teenoor swart (Afrikaan) Suid-Afrikaners in die algemeen verbeter nie, maar ook houdings teenoor Indiёr Suid-Afrikaners, wie nie by die oorspronklike kontak situasie betrokke was nie ook verbeter (d.w.s. die sekondȇre oordrag effek). Resultate toon dat die eksperimenteel gemanipuleerde kontak intergroep angs teenoor swart (Afrikaan) Suid-Afrikaners verminder (vanaf basislyn vlakke gemeet een week tevore). Hierdie effek is egter nie beduidend nie, moontlik omdat die statistiese kragdoeltreffendheid van die studie onvoldoende was. Die resultate toon verder dat eksperimenteel gemanipuleerde kontak buitegroep houdings en buitegroep vertroue (vanaf basislyn vlakke gemeet een week tevore) teenoor swart (Afrikaan) Suid-Afrikaners beduidend verbeter in die direkte kontak groep, sowel as die uitgebreide kontak groep (slegs vir buitegroep houdings). Ten slotte, die huidige studie het beduidende bewyse gevind vir die werking van die sekondȇre oordrag effek via houding veralgemening. Positiewe intergroep kontak met die swart (Afrikaan) Suid-Afrikaner voorspel ʼn beduidende verbetering in die buitegroep houding teenoor swart (Afrikaan) Suid-Afrikaners in die algemeen van Tyd 1 (basislyn) tot Tyd 2 (na die eksperimentele manipulasie), wat op sy beurt meer positiewe houdings teenoor Indiёr Suid-Afrikaners in die algemeen teen Tyd 2 voorspel, nadat daar vir beide kwaliteit en kwantiteit van vorige kontak met Indiёr Suid-Afrikaners beheer is. Die sekondȇre oordrag effek is nie vir buitegroep vertroue waargeneem nie. Die huidige studie dra by tot die bestaande literatuur oor die sekondȇre effek van kontak en ondersteun soortgelyke internasionale bevindinge binne die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks. Stellenbosch University.

登陸台灣人在中國大陸與台灣兩地的跨界生活，形塑了兩地的生活空間及社會網絡，本研究的問題意識在於，個人層次的接觸、互動與熟識，是否有助於個人在社會互動情境中親身認識及了解他人，減少以類屬性的刻板印象去看待外團體成員，因此可以降低族群偏見、促進移民的當地化？經過2007年及2008年兩次的田野調查，在東莞及上海地區深度訪談三十位當地台灣人之後，本研究初步發現，在接觸的第一階段，當台灣人接觸愈來愈多的大陸人之後，將消除原先的偏見，形成心理「基模」，一方面，部分受訪者表示其原先持有的偏見獲得證實，亦即台灣人對大陸人的偏見消除了，但因而產生負面態度，反之，有些受訪者破除其對大陸人的偏見，進而對大陸人抱持正面態度；到了接觸的第二階段，一旦個人的心理基模形成，其乃決定繼續接觸或阻絕接觸大陸人的關鍵；最後，來到接觸的第三階段，繼續接觸大陸人的台灣人，逐漸同情理解當地文化，反之，阻絕接觸大陸人的台灣人，始終無法融入當地人的社交網絡。 / The theory of intergroup contact maintains that the key to reduce intergroup prejudice is through contacts between the groups under optimal conditions. The main concerns of this dissertation are as following: Would it be possible for Taiwanese to reduce their prejudice toward Chinese through intergroup contacts? And, would the intergroup contacts help Taiwanese immigrants integrate into local community? Grounding on these two questions, this dissertation examines the impacts of intergroup contact between Taiwanese and Chinese through field study in Dongguan and Shanghai from 2007 to 2008. After interviewing thirty Taiwanese immigrants, my empirical research suggests that the contact process can be divided into three stages. First, at the earliest stage, by contacting more and more local residents, Taiwanese immigrants would reduce their prejudice and thus cultivate a sometimes positive and sometimes negative attitude toward Chinese. At the second stage, the attitude cultivated in earlier stage turns into the schema and then plays an important role in conditioning sequent contacts: those who have a positive attitude would open up and get along with local Chinese while those who have a negative attitude would refuse to get in touch with Chinese. At the third and final stage, those who open themselves up would have sympathetic understanding of local culture and adapt to local community gradually while those who refuse to contact Chinese would have difficulties integrating into local community. Keywords: intergroup contact, localization, social identity, Taishang Study

自1980年代末期以來，政府宣佈開放大陸探親，並逐步解除外匯管制等相關限制，兩岸之「經貿互動」於焉展開。台商到中國大陸投資二十餘年，由克服地域障礙、轉移企業資源，進而遂行經營管理的當地化，其融合速度快得驚人。現今，隨著08年「520」馬政府的上任，兩會協商、包機直航、兩岸開放大三通、陸客來台觀光…，「常居對岸」或「兩岸流動」的人數，亦隨之持續攀升，兩岸之間的互動更加日益密切。大陸台商面對因文化與生活習慣的差距所產生的生活適應問題，也成為台商赴大陸投資管理或台商個人生涯規劃上的重大考驗。過往，針對此主題之經驗研究如鳳毛麟角。因此，本研究聚焦於大陸台商生活層面當地化的情形，以及生活適應之現況，務其爬梳出具學術價值之研究論述。 本研究採取深度訪談的方式，以大陸台資企業負責人或高階幹部為訪談對象，對其生活適應及當地化的情況進行研究。雖然台商當地化的進展速度很快，但在其「安居落戶」方面，未來似乎仍充滿了變化，此乃今日極敏感、極富爭議的議題，值得台灣官方與學界高度關切。冀望透過本研究，使吾人對於「大陸台商生活層面當地化」問題，得到較完整、確切的廓清。 / The economy and trade between Taiwan and China has been continuously expanding since Taiwan Government allowed people on the island to visit their family relatives in China and gradually relieved some restrictions on Foreign Exchange Control Regulations in 1980s. It has been over 20 years since the first wave of Taiwan business people overwhelmingly entered China and started their own business. Demonstrated by their way of how to overcome any geographic barriers, how to successfully transfer desired business resources and how to localize and globalize their business, the acceleration speed of emerging in China for Taiwan business people these years has been so amazing. After President Ma’s taking office on May 20, 2008, never in the past six decades have relations between Taiwan and China been as good as they are today. Furthermore, with the help from affair negotiations between Strait Exchange Foundation (SEF) and Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), cross-straits direct charter flight(s), direct transportation across the Taiwan Strait and the increasing number of China tourists in Taiwan, the population of Taiwan business people nowadays in China (either they are permanent residents in China or frequent flyers between Taiwan and China) has been growing drastically. Due to the cultural difference in business and life style between Taiwan and China, it has also become a great challenge for most Taiwan business people to figure out how to live, work or do business in China. In the past, the research or study for “The localization of Taiwan business people’s life in China” has been very rare in Taiwan. My research and study here will primarily focus on the localization and adaptation analysis for Taiwan business people’s life in China. This research analysis provides a thorough overview of in-depth interviewing of Taiwan business owners or upper management executives for their localization process in China. Also, a list of further readings that provide you with more detailed information on conducting interviews is included in this paper. Despite the fast pace of the localization process of today’s Taiwan business people in China, it is believed that the ever-changing challenges of how to live and settle in China for them are still increasing. Some sensitive and controversial issues addressed in this paper will be definitely worth the close attention of government officials and academic scholars in Taiwan. Hopefully, this research paper will also provide us a complete understanding of how to help sweep away some barriers to the localization of Taiwan business people’s life in China.

民進黨的執政並未改減緩台商西進大陸的現象，如今政黨再次輪替，兩岸關係更是日益密切，但台灣與大陸畢竟因為長期的政治對立造成社會隔閡，彼此之間在許多層面都存在著差異。當越來越多台灣人前進大陸的同時，台灣人在當地社會融入不及經濟融入的現象也屢見不鮮，其中又以台商「抱團群聚」為具體行為。面對這樣一群存有差異，甚至曾經敵對的一群人，既像自己人又像是外人，在當地獲取經濟利益時，卻刻意與當地社會保持距離的情形，一般大陸人會有怎樣的感受？ 「社會認同理論」主張，族群的產生，會因為自尊的需求，不斷進行族群間的比較，當低群體成員無法像高群體進行身分移動時，會轉向自身的群體尋求提高自尊，於是族群間的偏見、對立，乃至衝突是不可避免的。「群際接觸假說」認為，族群間的偏見是因為對彼此的不熟悉，或因為資訊不足、或因為負面的訊息，透過正向條件下的接觸是可以消除彼此雙方的偏見，族群間的對立和衝突是可以避免的。 認同研究認為，人的認同會因為時間和地點的不同而改變，所以「上海」反而成為此次研究的關鍵因素，在上海的外來大陸人認為台灣人就以在上海來說，相對上海人而言反而比較像是「我群」的成員，所以對台灣人在上海抱團群聚的行為並不感到反感，甚至本身也是這種行為的成員之一。對上海人而言，台灣人抱團群聚的現象根本就是見怪不怪，由於上海特殊的移民文化，使得上海人的認同反而多元共存，甚至認為台灣人在某些層面比起其他大陸人更接近上海人的「我群」成員，特殊的移民多元文化創造上海不斷的進步、繁榮，而後者又不斷吸引新的移民進入。 不同群際接觸假說，上海獨特的移民歷史，改變了前者對「接觸」的定義，在多元文化的社會中，人們對其他族群和文化的包容力會變大，不一定要經過實質的接觸，或是正面的訊息傳遞。不以「同化」為目的，而是一種包容「差異」的能力，而上海本身便是把多元文化形成可能的一個場域，這或許就是上海獨特其它中國城市的原因，也是她迷人的所在。 / Under the increasingly frequent exchanges between Taiwan and China, Taiwanese people tend to congregate and inhabit certain regions of Shanghai. In face of immigrants who look both familiar and alien, how will most Mainlanders react, especially when social inclusion lags behind economic inclusion of these people? The contact theory proposes that positive contacts or reception of positive messages between ethnic groups can help iron out mutual biases. However, this study discovers the unique history of Shanghai about immigrants in foreign concessions and thus further extends this theory. A multi-cultural environment may affect one ethnic group’s tolerance of another group even without positive contacts or reception of positive messages between them. This is not any kind of assimilation but a phenomenon of people’s tolerance of minor differences. In addition to positive contacts and reception of positive messages, mutual tolerance among different ethnic groups may also be affected by the culture of the “field” they reside in.