University of St Andrews, UK.
Br J Soc Psychol. 2012 Jun;51(2):290-311. doi: 10.1111/j.2044-8309.2011.02056.x. Epub 2011 Sep 6.
Intergroup contact and group relative deprivation have both been shown to play a key role in the understanding of intergroup relations. Nevertheless, we know little about their causal relationship. In order to shed some light on the directionality and causality of the relationship between intergroup contact and group relative deprivation, we analysed responses by East and West Germans from k= 97 different cities, collected 6 (N(T)(1) = 1,001), 8 (N(T)(2) = 747), and 10 years (N(T)(3) = 565) after reunification. Multi-level cross-lagged analyses showed that group relative deprivation at T1 led to more (rather than less) intergroup contact between East and West Germans 2 years as well as 4 years later. We found no evidence for the reverse causal relationship, or moderation by group membership. Furthermore, admiration mediated the positive effect of relative deprivation on intergroup contact for both East and West Germans. This intriguing finding suggests that intergroup contact may be used as a proactive identity management strategy by members of both minority and majority groups.
群体间接触和群体相对剥夺都被证明在理解群体关系方面起着关键作用。然而，我们对它们之间的因果关系知之甚少。为了阐明群体间接触和群体相对剥夺之间关系的方向性和因果关系，我们分析了来自 97 个不同城市的东德人和西德人的反应，这些数据是在统一后 6 年（N(T)(1) = 1001）、8 年（N(T)(2) = 747）和 10 年（N(T)(3) = 565）收集的。多层次交叉滞后分析表明，T1 时的群体相对剥夺导致东德人和西德人在 2 年和 4 年后的群体间接触更多（而不是更少）。我们没有发现相反的因果关系或群体成员身份的调节作用的证据。此外，对于东德人和西德人来说，钦佩都在相对剥夺对群体间接触的积极影响中起到了中介作用。这一有趣的发现表明，群体间接触可能被少数群体和多数群体的成员用作积极的身份管理策略。
