Psychology Atlas

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Psychological Phenomena

Intergroup Anxiety

Social Biases and Group Effects

Intergroup anxiety is a social phenomenon identified by Walter and Cookie Stephan in 1985, describing the ambiguous feelings of discomfort or anxiety that arise when interacting with members of another group, feelings that can also occur when a person is merely anticipating such an interaction. It is believed to be caused by an expectation that interactions with members of an out-group will be an aversive experience, leaving an affected person anxious or uncertain about a number of issues, and researchers have identified positive intergroup contact as one method of reducing it.

Facts
Core Claim
The ambiguous feelings of discomfort or anxiety when interacting with members of other groups. 1
First Described Year
1985 1
Classification
Type of Phenomenon
Social or Interpersonal Phenomenon 1
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Intergroup anxiety
  • Lead paragraph, first sentence (definition clause)
    describes the ambiguous feelings of discomfort or anxiety when interacting with members of other groups.
  • Lead paragraph, first sentence (identification clause)
    the social phenomenon identified by Walter and Cookie Stephan in 1985
  • lead section, phenomenon-kind classification
    Intergroup anxiety is a social phenomenon identified by Walter and Cookie Stephan in 1985, describing the ambiguous feelings of discomfort or anxiety that arise when interacting with members of another group, feelings that can also occur when a person is merely anticipating such an interaction.
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