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Testing the Limits of Tolerance: How Intergroup Anxiety Amplifies Negative and Offensive Responses to Out-Group-Initiated Contact

University of Amsterdam and VU University Amsterdam, the Netherlands, m.van.zomeren{at}psy.vu.nl

Agneta H. Fischer

University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Russell Spears

Cardiff University, UK, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Three studies examine the amplifying effects of intergroup anxiety on individuals' negative and offensive responses to out-group-initiated contact. Because intergroup anxiety typically results in avoidance of the initiation of intergroup contact, these studies explored how intergroup anxiety affected individuals' interpretation of and responses to out-group-initiated contact. The authors hypothesized that intergroup anxiety amplifies individuals' threat appraisal of out-group-initiated contact as well as their feelings of anger and offensive action tendencies toward the out-group. Results showed consistent support for these hypotheses by demonstrating that intergroup anxiety amplified individuals' threat appraisal (Studies 2 and 3), anger (Studies 1-3), and offensive action tendencies toward the out-group (Study 2). Anger consistently predicted offensive action tendencies (Studies 2-3). Thus, intergroup anxiety decreased individuals' limits of tolerance by increasing their threat appraisal of out-group-initiated contact. The results are discussed in relation to theories of threat, emotion, and tolerance.

Key Words: intergroup anxiety • threat • anger • norm transgression • intergroup contact

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Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, Vol. 33, No. 12, 1686-1699 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0146167207307485


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This Article Abstract Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Van Zomeren, M. Articles by Spears, R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Van Zomeren, M. Articles by Spears, R. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?