Correcting Meta‐Attitude Inaccuracies Through Intergroup Contact: Evidence From Polarized and Non‐Polarized Intergroup Contexts

ABSTRACT

In three pre‐registered experiments, we investigated two intergroup contact strategies in correcting group members' misperceptions of how the outgroup views their ingroup ‐ meta‐attitude inaccuracy . Studies 1 ( N  = 555) and 2 ( N  = 447) tested the effectiveness of mass‐mediated intergroup contact via media content depicting positive intergroup interactions in interracial (Black–White Americans) and political (Democrats–Republicans) contexts, in comparison to informational feedback (providing feedback about actual outgroup perceptions) and control (travel destinations video) conditions. Study 3 tested a direct contact strategy using the Minimal Group Paradigm in a relatively non‐conflictual context (University students, N  = 88). Among the contact strategies, mass‐mediated contact was effective in rectifying meta‐attitude inaccuracy in all groups, except Republicans, for whom the inaccuracy shifted in the direction of an overly positive misperception. Informational feedback also resulted in comparable effects. Findings offer insights for policymakers seeking short, scalable, low‐cost strategies and stress the need to integrate contact and meta‐accuracy literatures.