Intergroup contact and willingness for renewed cohabitation in Cyprus: Exploring the mediating and moderating mechanisms

Abstract

One of the major challenges in divided societies is finding ways to overcome geographical partition by increasing readiness for cohabitation in mixed areas. Cyprus has faced a protracted situation of division (between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots) for the last 44 years. In this paper, we explore the role of intergroup contact (both quantity and quality of contact) in enhancing the willingness of members of these two communities to reestablish cohabitation, using representative survey samples from both communities. We hypothesize that such an effect is mediated by a decrease in the levels of prejudice between the two communities and an increase in the levels of trust. In addition, we hypothesize that the direct effect of intergroup contact and the indirect effect of intergroup contact through trust and prejudice are both moderated by age. To explore these hypotheses, we collected data from a representative sample of 502 Greek Cypriots and 504 Turkish Cypriots. The hypotheses are tested among the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot samples separately. In both samples, the results show that the positive effect of intergroup contact on willingness for renewed cohabitation is mediated by both trust and prejudice. There is also some support for the moderating effect of age for both the direct and indirect effects of intergroup contact.

The generalization of intergroup contact effects: Emerging research, policy relevance, and future directions

“…Trust is particularly relevant in intergroup relations because it implies positive expectations about intentions and others' behavior (Kenworthy et al, 2016) and fosters cooperation between members of different groups (e.g., Ferrin et al, 2008). Numerous studies supported the mediating role of intergroup trust in the relationship between both direct (Çakal et al, 2019;Yucel & Psaltis, 2019) and indirect forms of contact , and attitudinal Paterson et al, 2019) and behavioral intergroup outcomes (Kenworthy et al, 2016;McKeown & Psaltis, 2017;Turner et al, 2013). Relatedly, greater outgroup morality (perceiving the outgroup as honest, trustworthy, and sincere) also explains the effect of positive intergroup contact on outgroup attitudes (Brambilla et al, 2013;Vezzali et al, 2019).…”

Separatism and Regionalism in Modern Europe

“…But if there is ever going to be a reunification, trust is probably more important than politics and economics for sustainability of a solution even if it involves bizonal bi-communal federation. It is also shown that in the case of Cyprus, increased inter-group contact achieved after the partial removal of borders in 2003 has contributed positively to willingness for renewed cohabitation of the Cypriots (Yücel & Psaltis, 2019). Cyprus negotiations have lacked the consideration of social and psychological impacts of a possible "solution" on Cypriots.…”

Extended intergroup contact in frozen conflicts: Experimental evidence from Cyprus

“…In Cyprus, a measure of self-reported extended cross-group friendship (i.e. a respondent reports having a friend with a cross-group friendship) is associated with warmer feelings toward the outgroup even after controlling for direct contact (Yucel and Psaltis, 2020).…”

“…Generations of Cypriots have now grown up on a divided island and know no other reality. Perhaps for this reason, survey research has persistently demonstrated that attitudes toward reconciliation are less favorable among the young than among the old in the Greek Cypriot community in Cyprus (''Solving the Cyprus Problem, 2011Problem, , 2013Georgiades, 2007;Sitas et al, 2007;Yucel and Psaltis, 2020). Second, the type of contact that Cypriots engage in upon crossing tends to be shallow and transactional.…”

“…2 For example, surveys in Cyprus have shown that individuals who cross to the other side of the island possess more favorable views toward reconciliation and exhibit less prejudice (Sitas et al, 2007;UNDP, 2010). There is also evidence documenting a relationship between both quantity and quality of contact and reduced prejudice and increased trust (McKeown and Psaltis, 2017;Psaltis, 2012;Yucel and Psaltis, 2020). However, it is difficult to know whether individuals with more favorable attitudes are more likely to cross and have contact, or whether it is the act of crossing and having contact itself which has an effect on attitudes.…”