Intergroup Contact, Friendships and Prejudice Reduction in Multiethnic Schools and Communities by Bergamaschi, Alessandro; Pica, Cinzia;

Short description:

This edited collection

Long description:

This edited collection addresses the important study of the conditions that support positive intergroup contact that leads to intergroup friendships and prejudice reduction through a multidisciplinary lens. Employing Intergroup Contact Theory and Intergroup Friendships Theory as conceptual foundations, this book brings together researchers in psychology, sociology and education.

European societies are increasingly diverse spaces in which children, adolescents and adults of different racial and ethnic backgrounds, religious beliefs and cultural-linguistic practices interact daily. These spaces provide fertile ground for a continuum of relational experiences, from positive intergroup relationships and friendships to tensions and experiences of discrimination, marginalization and isolation. Bergamaschi, Pica and their contributors examine the psychological and sociological conditions, as well as the pedagogical interventions, that can shape interactions among young people.

The book will be of great interest to academics and students across disciplines, educators, policy makers and activists interested in how to support intercultural societies and schools toward the goal of reduced prejudice and discrimination toward a more intercultural and just society. The book will be a valuable read for scholars of the sociology of multiethnic society and for scholars interested in the role of education and school environments.

"At a time when hostility towards immigrants and refugees appears to be growing on both sides of the Atlantic, this book offers a valuable contribution to fuel the fight against prejudice, starting from educational contexts. It has three great merits: to bring sociology, psychology and pedagogy into dialogue; to compare the experiences of different European countries; to combine theoretical reflection with experiences and operational proposals. I strongly recommend reading it not only to academic scholars, but also to teachers, educators, social workers, people committed to building more open and inclusive societies."

Maurizio Ambrosini, Professor of Sociology of Migrations, Department of Political, Economic and Social Sciences, University of Milan, Italy

"In this groundbreaking new book, the authors address a critical topic: how schools can play a role in helping societies adjust to demographic change brought about by immigration.

Table of Contents:

Foreword - The Policy Implications of the Contact Hypothesis: Interculturalism as a Strategy for Citizenship Making in Diverse Schools

Preface

1. Intergroup Contact, Friendships, and Prejudice: Epistemic and Theoretical Underpinnings for Dialogue Between Psychology and Sociology

2. Is the Contact Effect Related to Age? An Empirical Investigation of French Multilevel Data