Imagined intergroup contact promotes cooperation through outgroup trust Author Lisa Pagotto, Emilio Visintin, Giulia De Iorio, Alberto Voci Publication Year 2012 Type Journal Article Abstract The present research aims to investigate whether salience of memberships during imagined contact is necessary for producing generalized positive attitudes toward the outgroup and promoting intergroup cooperation. After a warm-up task that involved reciprocal self-disclosure during the imagined interaction with an outgroup member, we manipulated interpersonal versus intergroup features of imagined contact. Results indicated that participants who imagined a conversation with a Muslim focusing on intergroup differences subsequently reported more positive attitudes and cooperative intentions toward Muslim immigrants compared to either participants who imagined the interaction at the interpersonal level or participants in a control condition. Moreover, these effects were found to be mediated by outgroup trust. These findings attest to the strength of interventions based on imagined intergroup contact and suggest a possible implementation of the technique. Keywords imagined contact, group salience, outgroup, cooperation Journal Group Processes & Intergroup Relations Volume 16 Pages 209–216 Type of Article Journal Article DOI 10.1177/1368430212450057 Full text Open access via the link provided. Type of Prejudice/Bias Immigrants/Asylum Seekers/Refugees Religion Country Italy Method Lab Setting College/University Work Google ScholarDOIBibTeX