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Personal Intergroup Contact Between Different Groups of Ex-Combatants and Civilians: Evidence from a Behavioural Experiment in Rwanda

Author

Listed:
  • Mayuko Onuki

    (Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies, Waseda University)

  • Keitaro Aoyagi

    (Metrics Work Consultants Inc.)

  • Yoshito Takasaki

    (Faculty of Economics, The University of Tokyo)

Abstract

Though personal intergroup contact is known to predict positive intergroup outcomes, little is known about a condition that elicits the kind of positive personal contact that reduces prejudice in real-world post-conflict societies. Using a behavioural experiment, the present study examined the effect of face-to-face personal contact between ex-combatants of three different groups, that are former adversaries, and civilians with disabilities in Rwanda. A total of 444 participants were randomly assigned to intergroup or intragroup pairs to interact under personal and task-focused contact conditions, and their person preference, evaluative bias, and impressions of those contact partners were compared against others with no direct contact. Between ex-combatants of the national army and civilians, task-focused contact generally resulted in better intergroup outcomes than personal contact or no contact. The trend is reversed for the task-focused versus personal contact between the three groups of ex-combatants. Implications for personal contact in real-world post-conflict societies are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Mayuko Onuki & Keitaro Aoyagi & Yoshito Takasaki, 2021. "Personal Intergroup Contact Between Different Groups of Ex-Combatants and Civilians: Evidence from a Behavioural Experiment in Rwanda," CIRJE F-Series CIRJE-F-1174, CIRJE, Faculty of Economics, University of Tokyo.
    • Handle: RePEc:tky:fseres:2021cf1174
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    References listed on IDEAS

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