Abstract:

Considering the fact that there is a ‘positive bias’ in previous intergroup contact research, negative contact has also been taken into consideration simultaneously. Currently, questionnaire, content analysis, social network analysis and experiment are the four main research methods used in research considering both positive and negative contact. It is demonstrated that positive contact and negative contact exerted positive and negative effects on intergroup relations respectively, which were mediated by intergroup emotion and intergroup trust, and moderated by authoritarianism and intimacy. On the relationship between positive and negative contact effects, two kinds of research ideas were employed, that is, asymmetry and interaction, both of which were supported by empirical evidence. In future research, it is necessary to examine the generalization effects of different valenced contact, especially negative contact, expand the effect scope of positive and negative contact, perfect the mechanism of positive and negative contact, and further explore the factors that affect the asymmetric effect of positive and negative contact.

Key words: positive contact, negative contact, positive bias, asymmetry effect, interaction effect