Final answer:
Inter-Group Contact involves interactions between members of different social or ethnic groups, with Sustained Close Contact being crucial for reducing prejudice and fostering positive relationships. This extended interaction can lead to deep friendships, empathy, and collaboration, with lasting impact on individuals and communities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of Inter-Group Contact refers to the interaction between members of different social, ethnic, or cultural groups. Within this concept, the notion of Sustained Close Contact plays a crucial role in reducing intergroup prejudice and fostering positive relations.
Sustained Close Contact, as discussed in Pettigrew and Tropp's meta-analytic test, emphasizes prolonged and meaningful interaction that allows for the establishment of friendships and deeper understanding between group members.
These groups are essential for the psychological well-being and socialization of an individual. Unstructured group therapy, like the sessions mentioned in Page and Berkow's work, provides an example of how sustained contact can facilitate the forming of such close-knit relationships.
The implications of Sustained Close Contact are significant as it leads to reduced biases, fosters empathy, and supports collaborative relationships, which can have lasting effects on individuals and communities.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the challenges for Sustained Close Contact when traditional means of group meetings are disrupted, prompting a shift to virtual alternatives when possible.