Micro-Ecology of Intergroup Segregation in Intergroup contact

BIN ZUO

Journal of Psychological Science ›› 2018, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (1) : 154-159.

PDF(343 KB)
PDF(343 KB)
Journal of Psychological Science ›› 2018, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (1) : 154-159.

Micro-Ecology of Intergroup Segregation in Intergroup contact

  • ,BIN ZUO
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Abstract

Social psychological research on segregation has mainly worked within the theoretical framework of the contact hypothesis. Critics of the contact studies has focused too heavily upon self-reported measures, and laboratory conditions, research suggests that the conditions for successful contact rarely occur naturally in everyday life. Improving this weakness, micro-ecological studies have examined the contact effect through observable intergroup interactions occuring in everyday life settings. A micro-ecological approach has been used to examine intergroup relations in a variety of public space in the United States and South Africa.Micro-Ecology of intergroup segregation between groups, based on race, gender, ethnicity or religion, is obvious all around us. It can be observed intergroup behaviour in a variety of settings including universities, open public seating, parks, playgrounds and beaches. As a micro-ecological process, that is, intergroup segregation that shapes intergroup relations in contexts where members of different groups share proximity and where intergroup boundaries are fleeting and informal. A large number of studies have demonstrated high levels of intergroup segregation over time in different regions and countries. Research on micro-ecology of intergroup segregation has tended to focus on isolation behaviors in naturalistic settings, it is important to preserve both spatiality and temporality when studying inter-group Segregation. Intergroup segregation aimed to examine situation, characteristics, patterns and dynamic changes of the intergroup relationships within the everyday spaces of people’s lives. The observational study aimed to analyse the nature and extent of informal intergroup segregation by plotting the distribution of members of different group in differentareas and sub-areas of the observation points over time.The research on micro-ecology of intergroup segregation has relied on maps and digital imaging technology to capture the distribution of members of different group populations within a defined space, to understand feature of micro-ecological processes.The measure indexes of intergroup Segregation are introduced, D indices, measure segregation as a function of the evenness of distribution of members of different groups across public space, P indices, estimates the potential that the average member of one group has for interacting with members of another group. Analyzing segregation at the micro-level provides an important choice to the research methods in the study of intergroup relations.There are some limitations in the existing studies, future research should pay more attention to improving the theory,explore the mechanism . The potential psychological consequences of micro-ecological processes of intergroup segregation should be concered, such processes are significant not only because they shape the frequency or opportunity for contact,but also help to constitute the symbolic context in which intergroup relations are formed and expressed.Specifically, next research might explore the social psychological meanings of intergroup segregation in greater depth, including their relationship with processes of intergroup contact, need to pay closer attention to the informal segregation that model intergroup relations in everyday life. A mixed methods approach bridges the gap between research, in order to investigate micro-ecological dynamics, there is a need to develop techniques to undersand the emergment and transformation of socio-spatial systems that are fluid, transient and complex, to develop methodologies for uncovering the intergroup segregation and for exploring their social psychological implications.

Key words

intergroup contact / micro-ecology of intergroup segregation / observation / public space

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BIN ZUO. Micro-Ecology of Intergroup Segregation in Intergroup contact[J]. Journal of Psychological Science. 2018, 41(1): 154-159
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