Browsing by Author "Theunissen, Andrea"

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    Applying the Theory of Planned Behaviour to identify the predictors of intergroup contact
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2023-03) Theunissen, Andrea; Swart, Hermann; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Department of Psychology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa is a post-conflict society where segregation and discrimination was legitimised under Apartheid. The abolishment of Apartheid brought about the end of formal segregation, creating increased opportunities for intergroup contact between South Africans from different groups. Intergroup contact offers one of the most compelling ways to reduce prejudice and improve intergroup attitudes (Pettigrew & Tropp, 2006). However, members of historically advantaged and disadvantaged groups in post-conflict societies may choose to avoid intergroup contact with one another for a variety of reasons, and it remains a key challenge in the contact literature to identify those factors that promote an increased willingness to engage in intergroup contact (Kauff et al., 2021). In this study I investigated the predictors of intergroup contact within the framework of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), a robust model used to identify the predictors of behavioural intentions and volitional behaviour (Ajzen, 1991). The TPB model suggests that attitudes towards the behaviour, norms regarding the behaviour, and perceived behavioural control relating to the behaviour each predict behavioural intention, which, in turn, predicts volitional behaviour (Armitage & Conner, 2001; Ha Sur et al., 2021; McEachan et al., 2011; Rich et al., 2015). I undertook a secondary data analysis using data collected in 2019 amongst 169 white South African first-year Economics students at Stellenbosch University (SU). I employed Structural Equation Modelling to test my hypotheses. It was hypothesised that positive attitudes towards intergroup contact, norms in support of intergroup contact, and perceived behavioural control relating to intergroup contact would predict a willingness to engage in intergroup contact with black (African) and coloured South African students at SU. In addition, it was hypothesised that perceived behavioural control and a willingness to engage in intergroup contact would predict the frequency of positive intergroup contact with black (African) and coloured South African students at SU. The results showed that attitude towards intergroup contact (b = .64, p behavioural control (b = .65, p < .01) were each significantly positively associated with a willingness to engage in intergroup contact, while norms relating to intergroup contact was not (b = -.26, p = .15). Furthermore, a willingness to engage in intergroup contact was significantly associated with the frequency of positive intergroup contact (b = .78, p < .05). These findings replicate those in the TPB literature and offer support for the utility of the TPB to examine the predictors of intergroup contact willingness.