Much research has shown that intergroup contact is associated with a reduction in prejudice. Far less attention has been paid to the conditions that promote intergroup contact. This research explored the role of normative social influence in predicting contact engagement (total N = 1,538). Cross-sectional Study 1 found that individuals’ perception of descriptive levels of intergroup contact amongst the ingroup predicted their own contact engagement whilst controlling for outgroup attitudes. Study 2 and Study 3 demonstrated that an experimental manipulation of descriptive norms promoted outgroup approach intentions, and actual approach behaviour. Participants were more open to future intergroup contact when they learnt of the high prevalence of this behaviour amongst the ingroup. Study 4 then considered how normative techniques could be used when intergroup contact is not commonplace. Together, the findings provide a new understanding of the antecedents of intergroup contact and new techniques for encouraging greater inclusion and integration.

许多研究表明，群体间接触与偏见的减少有关。对促进群体间接触的条件的关注要少得多。本研究探讨了规范社会影响在预测接触参与中的作用（总N= 1,538）。横断面研究 1 发现，个人对内群体之间群体间接触的描述性水平的感知预测了他们自己的接触参与度，同时控制了外群体的态度。研究 2 和研究 3 表明，对描述性规范的实验操作促进了外群体接近意图和实际接近行为。当参与者了解到这种行为在内部群体中的高度流行时，他们对未来的群体间接触更加开放。研究 4 然后考虑了当群体间接触不常见时如何使用规范技术。总之，这些发现提供了对群体间接触的前因和鼓励更大程度的包容和融合的新技术的新理解。