What makes a young assertive bystander? The effect of intergroup contact, empathy, cultural openness, and in-group bias on assertive bystander intervention intentions

Journal article

Abbott, N. and Cameron, L. 2014. What makes a young assertive bystander? The effect of intergroup contact, empathy, cultural openness, and in-group bias on assertive bystander intervention intentions. Journal Of Social Issues. 70 (1), pp. 167-182. https://doi.org/10.1111/josi.12053
AuthorsAbbott, N. and Cameron, L.
Abstract

The present research tests the indirect effects of intergroup contact on adolescents’ bystander intervention intentions via four potential mediators: “empathy,” “cultural openness,” “in-group bias,” and “intergroup anxiety.” British adolescents (N=855), aged 11–13 years, completed measures of intergroup (interethnic) contact and the identified indirect variables. Intended bystander behavior was measured by presenting participants with an intergroup (immigrant) name-calling scenario. Participants rated the extent to which they would behave assertively. The findings extend previous intergroup contact research by showing a significant indirect effect of intergroup contact on assertive bystander intentions via empathy, cultural openness and in-group bias (but not via intergroup anxiety). Theoretical implications and practical suggestions for future prejudice-reduction interventions are discussed.

KeywordsBystander intervention; social exclusion; intergroup name calling; empathy; in-group bias; cultural openness
Year2014
JournalJournal Of Social Issues
Journal citation70 (1), pp. 167-182
PublisherBlackwell
ISSN0022-4537
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1111/josi.12053
Publication dates
Print2014
Publication process dates
Deposited07 Apr 2014
Accepted author manuscript
Output statusPublished
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https://repository.canterbury.ac.uk/item/87179/what-makes-a-young-assertive-bystander-the-effect-of-intergroup-contact-empathy-cultural-openness-and-in-group-bias-on-assertive-bystander-intervention-intentions

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Accepted author manuscript
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