Examining interpersonal conflicts among middle school students in Turkey

The purpose of this research was to examine interpersonal conflicts among middle school students. Participants were 461 students from sixth, seventh and eighth grades (12-14 year olds) of middle schools. Of the participating students, 241 were female, and 220 were male. Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire. Since the questionnaire items were all open ended, the whole data were text based. Content analysis, therefore, was used in order to analyse the data. Results showed that students’ associations of conflict, types of conflicts which were seen in the school context, and origins of these conflicts generally included violence-oriented destructive features concerning either physical, or verbal and psychological. Similarly, students’ conflict resolution strategies and tactics had a tendency to be either destructive or adult oriented instead of being co-operative.peer-reviewe

I (dis)like the way you (dis)like them: The role of extended contact on social distance and attitudes towards the ingroup

While extended intergroup contact has been commonly studied in the context of prejudice reduction, less is known about its implications for processes related to the ingroup. Through three correlational and one experimental studies (total N = 897) conducted in two different intergroup contexts (Turkey and United Kingdom), we investigated whether extended intergroup contact relates to social distance and attitudes towards ingroup members as a function of outgroup attitudes. We also investigated ingroup identification and perceived ingroup morality as potential mediators in these associations. Correlational studies demonstrated that especially when outgroup attitudes were more negative, participants’ positive (but not negative) extended contact was related to a more negative evaluation of the ingroup; whereas when outgroup attitudes were more positive, extended contact was associated with positive attitudes towards the ingroup. We found experimental evidence for the suggested relationships in relation to ingroup social distance. Findings are discussed in the light of vicarious dissonance theory and deprovincialization hypothesis

Reducing prejudice toward Syrian refugee children: a vicarious contact intervention among Turkish elementary school children

We conducted an experimental intervention to test the effectiveness of vicarious contact in the relationship between Turkish and Syrian elementary school children; the participants were Turkish children. We used a mixed-methods approach, investigating effects by using both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Participants in the experimental condition were asked to read stories on positive contact between Turkish and Syrian children over the course of six weekly sessions. The results revealed that vicarious contact, compared to a control condition where participants did not engage in any activity, led to greater intentions to help outgroup members. Importantly, effects only emerged among children who reported higher initial negative outgroup attitudes. Results from qualitative data revealed that vicarious contact produced richer, more positive, and complex representations of the relationships and friendships between groups. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these findings

Being tolerated and being discriminated against:Links to psychological well-being through threatened social identity needs

We investigated whether and how the experience of being tolerated and of being discriminated against are associated with psychological well‐being in three correlational studies among three stigmatized groups in Turkey (LGBTI group members, people with disabilities, and ethnic Kurds, total N = 862). Perceived threat to social identity needs (esteem, meaning, belonging, efficacy, and continuity) was examined as a mediator in these associations. Structural equation models showed evidence for the detrimental role of both toleration and discrimination experiences on positive and negative psychological well‐being through higher levels of threatened social identity needs. A mini‐meta analysis showed small to moderate effect sizes and toleration was associated with lower positive well‐being through threatened needs among all three stigmatized groups

Do I really want to engage in contact? Volition as a new dimension of intergroup contact

Despite burgeoning evidence for the effectiveness of intergroup contact on prejudice reduction, relatively less is known about how much individuals’ internal control and active choice is involved in the formation of intergroup contact. Through four correlational studies (Ntotal = 1043, Study 1 in Cyprus and Studies 2‐4 in Turkey), we investigated the construct of ‘contact volition’ ‐ the extent to which one engages in intergroup contact deliberately. Studies 1‐3 showed that intergroup contact perceived as primarily intentional and pursued by the active choice of the self (volitional contact) was associated with greater intimacy and positivity and thereby more positive attitudes, compared to contact that is primarily based on external/situational conditions (contingent contact). Study 4 showed that contact quantity was associated with more positive attitudes and behavioral tendencies through greater intimacy and positivity, only when contact was volitional. Findings contribute to the recently emerging research literature on motivated contact behavior that can help maximize the effectiveness of contact

Dealing With Increasing Negativity Toward Refugees: A Latent Growth Curve Study of Positive and Negative Intergroup Contact and Approach-Avoidance Tendencies

Despite increasing contact opportunities, prejudice toward refugees persists, especially in mass immigration contexts. We investigated changes in and associations between Turkish early adolescents’ (N = 687, Mage = 11.11 years) positive and negative contact with Syrian refugees and their outgroup approach-avoidance tendencies over 15 months (three waves). Univariate growth curve models demonstrated a rise in outgroup negativity indicated by increasing negative contact and avoidance tendencies, and decreasing approach tendencies, while positive contact only slightly increased over time (nonsignificantly). Combined latent growth curve models showed that increasing positive contact buffered against increasing outgroup negativity in behavioral tendencies by predicting a less steep decline in approach and a less steep increase in avoidance. Increasing negative contact was positively associated with increasing outgroup negativity so that it predicted a more steep increase in avoidance. Findings underline the importance of early contact interventions that target the fast deterioration of positive intergroup interactions in increasingly hostile intergroup contexts

Have some confidence in contact: Self-efficacy beliefs among children moderate the associations between cross-group friendships and outgroup attitudes

We investigated how and when individuals transform existing cross-group interactions into more positive attitudes towards outgroups. Specifically focusing on the context of Syrian immigration to Turkey, we examined whether native children's cross-group friendship self-efficacy beliefs—the perception of their abilities about building successful cross-group interactions—moderated the direct and indirect associations between cross-group friendship quantity (measured by the number of Syrian friends), cross-group friendship positivity and negativity, and attitudinal outcomes (outgroup attitudes, intergroup anxiety, and social distance). Analyses of correlational data (5th graders, N = 746) demonstrated that direct and indirect (through cross-group friendship positivity) associations between cross-group friendship quantity and positive intergroup outcomes were stronger among children who held greater self-efficacy beliefs. Importantly, quantity of such friendships was related to more negative intergroup outcomes through negative contact experiences among children who reported lower self-efficacy beliefs. Theoretical implications of the findings and possible interventions targeting self-efficacy beliefs in intergroup contact strategies were discussed

Have some confidence in contact: Self‐efficacy beliefs among children moderate the associations between cross‐group friendships and outgroup attitudes

We investigated how and when individuals transform existing cross-group interactions into more positive attitudes towards outgroups. Specifically focusing on the context of Syrian immigration to Turkey, we examined whether native children's cross-group friendship self-efficacy beliefs—the perception of their abilities about building successful cross-group interactions—moderated the direct and indirect associations between cross-group friendship quantity (measured by the number of Syrian friends), cross-group friendship positivity and negativity, and attitudinal outcomes (outgroup attitudes, intergroup anxiety, and social distance). Analyses of correlational data (5th graders, N = 746) demonstrated that direct and indirect (through cross-group friendship positivity) associations between cross-group friendship quantity and positive intergroup outcomes were stronger among children who held greater self-efficacy beliefs. Importantly, quantity of such friendships was related to more negative intergroup outcomes through negative contact experiences among children who reported lower self-efficacy beliefs. Theoretical implications of the findings and possible interventions targeting self-efficacy beliefs in intergroup contact strategies were discussed

I (dis)like the way you (dis)like them: the role of extended contact on social distance and attitudes towards the ingroup

While extended intergroup contact has been commonly studied in the context of prejudice reduction, less is known about its implications for processes related to the ingroup. Through three correlational and one experimental studies (total N = 897) conducted in two different intergroup contexts (Turkey and United Kingdom), we investigated whether extended intergroup contact relates to social distance and attitudes towards ingroup members as a function of outgroup attitudes. We also investigated ingroup identification and perceived ingroup morality as potential mediators in these associations. Correlational studies demonstrated that especially when outgroup attitudes were more negative, participants’ positive (but not negative) extended contact was related to a more negative evaluation of the ingroup; whereas when outgroup attitudes were more positive, extended contact was associated with positive attitudes towards the ingroup. We found experimental evidence for the suggested relationships in relation to ingroup social distance. Findings are discussed in the light of vicarious dissonance theory and deprovincialization hypothesis