
This research study investigates the mediating influence ofintergroup anxiety in the linkage between imagined contact andprosocial behavioral intentions. Authors extend the existingliterature on imagined contact by incorporating behavioral scriptsand a visual perspective as part of the intervention. To furtherenhance the generalizability of the findings, the study wasconducted in two distinct phases, encompassing diverse targetgroups of 147 British and 251 Malay students enrolled inuniversities in the United Kingdom and Malaysia, respectively. Inthe first experiment, the results revealed a significant main effectof condition, indicating high levels of altruistic intention afterparticipants imagined contact (M = 3.82, SD = 0.32), in contrast tothe control condition (M = 3.00, SD = 0.32). Additionally, theanalysis demonstrated significantly reduced levels of intergroupanxiety (M = 2.06, SD = 0.35) and egoistic intention (M = 1.97, SD= 0.31). The findings also highlighted the mediating role ofintergroup anxiety in the relationship between imagining positivecontact and all three prosocial behavioral intentions: altruisticintention (β = 0.04, p < .001), egoistic intention (β = -0.02, p <.001), and willingness to donate (β = 0.19, p < .001). In the secondexperiment, the results were consistent with those obtained in thefirst experiment. These findings suggest that techniques involvinga third-person perspective and the integration of intended behaviorin imagery tasks not only enhance positive behavioral outcomesbut also mitigate prejudice effectively.
Social Psychology, Psychology, Social and Personality Psychology, Affect and Emotion Regulation, Attitudes and Persuasion, Social and Behavioral Sciences
Social Psychology, Psychology, Social and Personality Psychology, Affect and Emotion Regulation, Attitudes and Persuasion, Social and Behavioral Sciences
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 0 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Average | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
