Like mother, like daughter? Like father, like son? Preventing and reducing prejudice in adolescents: the role of empathy and intergroup contact

Given the increasing prejudice in Europe and the fact that prejudice is a risk factor for aggression against minorities, it is crucial to understand how it can be countered. Although research has shown transmission of prejudice from parents to children, little is known about the ways this process operates and can be countered. This project examines the possible mechanisms behind the transmission of prejudice and whether adolescents’ empathy plays a role in the adoption of parental prejudice. Moreover, although research has shown that positive intergroup contact can reduce anti-immigrant attitudes, little is known about the individuals for whom contact is most/least successful. This research examines the effects of positive contact for individuals with various levels of empathy. The findings of this project will be informative for anti-prejudice intervention programs based on intergroup contact and empathy training.