The durability of imagined contact on intergroup attitudes and prejudice: An intervention among Japanese nationals towards Korean outgroups

Abstract Imagined contact is a promising method for reducing intergroup prejudice with potential merits in terms of ease of application, among other features. However, little is known about whether its mitigating effects go beyond the laboratory and how long such effects might endure. This study investigated the use of imagined contact and its durability in the Japanese context, a setting in which this method has not been widely explored. Eighty participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups, one imagining a favourable interaction scenario with an outgroup member (Korean) and the other imagining a control contact scenario with an ingroup member (fellow Japanese). The effects and durability of imagined contact on intergroup attitudes and prejudice were tracked over time. Results showed that participants who imagined a favourable interaction with an outgroup member exhibited more positive attitudes towards the outgroup. While these effects were especially evident right after engaging in imagined contact, some indices of prejudice also showed positive effects lasting for 1 month after. A mediation analysis revealed that social distance partially mediated the relationship between imagined contact and willingness to engage in future intergroup interactions. This suggests that imagined contact reduces psychological distance, thereby increasing openness to contact. Overall, imagined contact demonstrated potential for application outside the Western context and may serve as a viable tool for fostering positive intercultural attitudes in Japan.