Chinese Journal of Sociology ›› 2012, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (2): 105-124.

• Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

A Study on the Intergroup Contact Hypothesis:Interaction Between the New Immigrants and the Local Citizens in Shanghai

 Lei Kaichun, School of Social Development, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.   

  1.  Lei Kaichun, School of Social Development, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.
  • Online:2012-03-20 Published:2012-03-20
  • Contact: Lei Kaichun, School of Social Development, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences. E-mail:sociology_lei@126.com
  • About author:Lei Kaichun, School of Social Development, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.
  • Supported by:

    The research was supported by the Key Project of National Social Science Foundation “Study on the Harmonious Interactions of Social Stratification and Mobility in China” (11&ZD035) and the Key Discipline Construction Project “Social Transformation and Social Development” of Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.

PDF

565

Cited

1

Abstract:

 The Contact Hypothesis contends that “equal status,” “common goals,” “intergroup cooperation,” “supportive norms,” “interpersonal contact,” and “genuine friendship” are six optimal conditions for intergroup relational improvement. According to the depth of contact, this paper reduces the six contact elements to three, namely, “equal status,” “rational contact,” and “actuarial contact.” Based on the 2007 survey data from Shanghai, this study took social distance as the index of group relationships and analyzed the contact patterns between the new immigrants and the local residents in Shanghai to test the effects of the three contact elements. The results indicated that, in regards to the group relationship between the new urban immigrants and the local citizens, and with respect to equal status, institutional identity was more important than occupational identity; job competition was more prominent than job cooperation; and practical contact was more effective than emotional contact. These findings have shown us: (1) Not all contact strategies can improve intergroup relationships; further empirical research to test the contact hypothesis will improve the validity and pertinence of the social inclusion policies; 2) from the perspective of pluralistic social integration, promoting mutual adaptation of the immigrants and the native citizens can effectively lead to a harmonious society; 3) migration with social rationality may gradually replace migration with economic rationality; and 4) the local immigration government should facilitate supportive communication between the newcomers, especially those at the bottom layer, and the local citizens.

Key words:  the Contact Hypothesis ,   intergroup relation ,   new urban immigrants ,   social distance

CLC Number: