Building Trust in a Postconflict Society: An Integrative Model of Cross-group Friendship and Intergroup Emotions. (September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kenworthy, Jared Bowden; Voci, Alberto; Ramiah, Ananthi Al; Tausch, Nicole; Hughes, Joanne; Hewstone, Miles
• Is Part Of: Journal of conflict resolution. Volume 60:Number 6(2016)
• Page Start: 1041
• Page End: 1070
• Publication Date: 2016-09
• Subjects: contact -- friendship -- intergroup emotions -- intergroup conflict -- trust -- Northern Ireland; War and society -- Periodicals; Peace -- Periodicals; Arbitration (International law) -- Periodicals; 327.16
• DOI: 10.1177/0022002714564427
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-0027

Abstract

Across one longitudinal and two cross-sectional surveys in Northern Ireland, we tested a model of intergroup relations in which out-group attitudes and behavioral tendencies are predicted by cross-group friendship and positive intergroup appraisals, mediated by intergroup emotions and out-group trust. In study 1, out-group friendship at time 1 predicted out-group trust at time 2 (one year later), controlling for prior out-group trust. In study 2, positive and negative intergroup emotions mediated the effects of friendship on positive and negative behavioral tendencies and attitudes. In study 3, a confirmatory factor analysis indicated that trust and emotions are distinct constructs with unique predictive contributions. We then tested a model in which cross-group friendship predicted intergroup emotions and trust through intimate self-disclosure in out-group friendships. Our findings support an integration of an intergroup emotions framework with research highlighting the importance of cross-group friendship in fostering positive intergroup outcomes.