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Let's stay close: An examination of the effects of imagined contact on behavior toward children with disability

Cocco, Veronica Margherita; Bisagno, Elisa; Di Bernardo, Gian Antonio; Bicocchi, Nicola; Calderara, Simone; Palazzi, Andrea; Cucchiara, Rita; Zambonelli, Franco; Cadamuro, Alessia; Stathi, Sofia; Crisp, Richard; Vezzali, Loris

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Authors

Veronica Margherita Cocco

Elisa Bisagno

Gian Antonio Di Bernardo

Nicola Bicocchi

Simone Calderara

Andrea Palazzi

Rita Cucchiara

Franco Zambonelli

Alessia Cadamuro

Sofia Stathi

Loris Vezzali



Abstract

In line with current developments in indirect intergroup contact literature, we conducted a field study using the imagined contact paradigm among high-status (Italian children) and low-status (children with foreign origins) group members (N = 122; 53 females, mean age = 7.52 years). The experiment aimed to improve attitudes and behavior toward a different low-status group, children with disability. To assess behavior, we focused on an objective measure that captures the physical distance between participants and a child with disability over the course of a five-minute interaction (i.e., while playing together). Results from a 3-week intervention revealed that in the case of high-status children imagined contact, relative to a no-intervention control condition, improved outgroup attitudes and behavior, and strengthened helping and contact intentions. These effects however did not emerge among low-status children. The results are discussed in the context of intergroup contact literature, with emphasis on the implications of imagined contact for educational settings.

Citation

Cocco, V. M., Bisagno, E., Di Bernardo, G. A., Bicocchi, N., Calderara, S., Palazzi, A., …Vezzali, L. (2023). Let's stay close: An examination of the effects of imagined contact on behavior toward children with disability. Social Development, 32(3), 1042-1059. https://doi.org/10.1111/sode.12662

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Dec 7, 2022
Online Publication Date Dec 22, 2022
Publication Date 2023-08
Deposit Date Mar 29, 2023
Publicly Available Date Dec 23, 2023
Journal Social Development
Print ISSN 0961-205X
Electronic ISSN 1467-9507
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 32
Issue 3
Pages 1042-1059
DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/sode.12662
Public URL https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1176960
Related Public URLs https://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/38387/

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