Intergroup Contact, Acculturation, Behavioural Tendencies and Collective Action in Newly Arriving and Established Immigrants

ABSTRACT Two preregistered studies, longitudinal Study 1 with African immigrants in Italy ( N = 253) and cross‐sectional Study 2 with second‐generation Vietnamese in Czechia ( N = 311), investigated whether immigrants' intergroup contact (positive vs. negative) with members of the host society associates with immigrants' acculturation preferences (original culture maintenance vs. host culture adoption) and relevant intergroup outcomes (behavioural tendencies towards host society members and support for collective action on immigrants' behalf). In both studies, positive contact with host society members was associated with more positive behavioural tendencies towards them. In the newly arriving immigrants (Study 1), positive intergroup contact further predicted lower preference for immigrants' original culture maintenance, whereas negative contact predicted higher preference for original culture maintenance, intention to engage in collective action and, unexpectedly, immigrants' preference for host culture adoption. In the established immigrants (Study 2), positive intergroup contact was not only associated with positive behavioural tendencies to members of the host society but also with immigrants' preference for host culture adoption, whereas negative contact was associated with preference for original culture maintenance and collective action. Overall, positive and negative intergroup contact with members of receiving societies is key for immigrants at all stages of their adaptation, while other factors may depend on the particular stage. Trial Registration: The authors have pre‐registered this research with an analysis plan prior to conducting the research at: https://osf.io/36unt/