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Integrated Contact Theory

Intergroup contact is a continuum of different forms of programs that are based on the interaction of people from various social groups, including horizontal contact (between racial, ethnic, religious, and/or national groups) and vertical contact (between communities, civic society government, police and representatives of other institutions). 

Integrated contact theory provides tools and practices in four main areas:

Applications

Conditions

• Enduring and pleasant contact condition

• Equal status condition

• Collaboration and common goals condition

• Support by Authorities condition

Conditions

• Threat reduction process in contact based programs 

• Trust building in contact-based programs 

• Trauma healing process in contact based programs 

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Improving applications of contact programs

• Sustainability of contact based programs

• Horizontal contact programming
  • Identity Management in contact based programs

• Vertical contact programming
  • Bridging Conceptual Barriers 

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More White Papers on Contact Theory

Contact Theory Library

Foundational and conceptual readings on reconciliation and peacebuilding Review papers and handbook chapters - overviews of research literature Empirical and meta-analytic studies on intergroup contact Studies showing encouraging contact effects across national contexts

The BRIDGE framework

The BRIDGE Framework systemically describes strategies that create a foundation for sustainable peace. Bonding strategies create mutuality, the interdependency of positive change, and the ability to find common ways forward. Through Reassuring strategies, the identities of the parties involved become recognized, respected, and accounted for as a crucial part of a peace process. Involving strategies stress the importance of involving a wide array of actors and activities of all sectors of society.  

Determining Guides strategy concentrates on the core issues of identity dynamics within each party and between parties involved, emphasizing the diversity of views on just peace within the society and the need to account for all positions in the production of a common language of peace. Equalizing strategies address not only power differences between parties but also a variance between conflict sides’ perspectives on what justice might entail. 

To get more information on practices, and tactics related to each of the five strategies, please click HERE.

Early warning system for identity-based conflicts

The dynamics of identity-based conflict are outlined in the 4-C model, consisting of four stages: Comparison, Competition, Confrontation, and Counteraction (Korostelina, 2007). Members of interactive communities possess multiple identities leading to the formation of stereotypes, biases, and prejudices even in peaceful and cooperative societies. Unfavorable perceptions of outgroups stem from various psychological processes, including a need to be both different from others and included in a group, favorable group comparisons and intergroup prejudice, relative deprivation, and the global attribution error. In conflicts of interests, negative intergroup perceptions and ingroup favoritism can transform into active hostility toward the outgroup. This collective angst is based on perceived threats from outgroups, even among those who did not directly experience violence. Thus, social identity is employed to make sense of the situation of competition, exclusion, and marginalization. Once a society is divided into antagonistic groups, social identities become central to the conflict, creating moral boundaries and collective axiology that dehumanizes and demonizes outgroup members as well as prescribes actions against the outgroup.