Group member affect and session evaluations in intergroup dialogue.

Abstract

A growing body of research suggests that participation in intergroup dialogue (IGD) is associated with a variety of positive outcomes related to diversity and social justice

Intergroup Dialogue: A Review of Recent Empirical Research and Its Implications for Research and Practice

“…The research described above involved primarily retrospective qualitative accounts in which participants described emotions as they remembered experiencing them in their IGD, after the IGD had concluded. Miles et al (2015) examined participants’ ratings of session-level positive and negative emotions in relation to two session-level outcomes: session depth and session smoothness. Based on the four-stage model of IGD, which focuses first on building relationships and group norms before shifting to more difficult topics (Zúñiga et al, 2007), Miles et al hypothesized quadratic trends in both positive and negative emotions over time, with a high-low-high pattern for positive emotion over time, and a low-high-low pattern for negative emotion over time, and these hypotheses were confirmed.…”

“…In 2004, Khuri called on practitioners and researchers to give greater attention to emotion in IGD. Since then, studies have continued to highlight the importance of emotion in IGD (Gurin-Sands et al, 2012; Kivlighan & Arseneau 2009; Miles et al, 2015). Practitioners should continue to explore ways to bring emotions into the room, to make discussions of emotions more authentic, and to teach group members how to explore their own emotions.…”

“…For example, what, specifically, did a facilitator say that helped (or prevented) a group to successfully remain engaged through conflict? Similarly, while recent research has examined emotions in IGD (Dessel & Ali, 2012; Dessel et al, 2013, Dessel et al, 2011; Miles et al, 2015), session-level analyses of interactions involving emotion could provide valuable insight for facilitator training. Further research should also explore outcomes longitudinally.…”

“…In addition to the processes described above, some recent research has examined group processes by drawing on social and clinical/counseling psychology and social work (e.g., Brady et al, 2016; Grodofsky & Soffer, 2011; Miles et al, 2015). Researchers may develop group climate assessments specific to IGD that could be used by facilitators.…”

The White Racial Affect Scale (WRAS): A Measure of White Guilt, Shame, and Negation

“…Although psychological research on race and racism is often equated with the study of attitudes and social cognition, emotions play a central role in experiences of race and social inequality. Anxiety, fear, anger, disgust, and disappointment are just some of the emotions associated with interracial relations and conflict (Banks & Valentino, 2012; Frankenberg, 1993; Hancock, 2004) that may also impact attempts to bridge divides across racial and ethnic groups (Miles et al, 2015). Critical scholarship has notably illuminated how racial minorities experience interpersonal prejudice and institutional racism in deeply affective ways (Lewis, Mendenhall, Harwood, & Huntt, 2016).…”