The Good, the Bad, and the Long‐Term Implications of Social Diversity

Abstract

Demographic trends reveal that modern societies have become more heterogeneous in terms of their ethnic composition. Concerns about social diversity and its implications have received critical scholarly attention, and it has become a prominent topic in several social sciences. The recent but already impressive amount of published research has examined the impact of social diversity (e.g., ethnic, religious diversity) on societal variables such as economic performance and neighborhood trust. However, results from this body of work have been contradictory and a lack of consensus in diversity research has undermined the impact of science on policy. To address this concern, we propose a time‐focused perspective in which seemingly contradictory theoretical perspectives can be integrated to provide a coherent account as to why social diversity can potentially yield both negative and positive outcomes. This perspective is discussed in light of its implications for diversity politics. A successful management and planning of these unprecedented demographic changes will dictate the quality of people's lives.

Variety Is the Spice of Life: Diverse Social Networks Are Associated With Social Cohesion and Well-Being

“…We further tested how our results differed across different respondent subgroups (such as White vs. non-White, young vs. older, degree holders vs. others) by repeating the main analysis but using these different subsamples. We also tested for differences in results between less versus more ethnically diverse areas, given that ethnic diversity has been associated with a wide range of positive and negative intergroup outcomes (e.g., Ramos & Hewstone, 2018). Individuals were grouped as White if their reported ethnicity was among White British/English/Scottish/Welsh/Northern Irish/ Gypsy or Irish traveler/other White background.…”

“…At the same time, heterophily (also known as xenophily ) is also often observed in humans: We have an impulse to engage in contact with other people, even with members of out-groups (Stürmer et al, 2013). As much as we are ready to react initially with negativity to social diversity, we are also equipped with the potential to seek out and benefit from intergroup experiences (Ramos & Hewstone, 2018). In evolutionary terms, cooperation between different groups with complementary advantages has led to the division of labor and economies of scale (Hooper et al, 2015).…”

Long-Term Correlates of Racially Diverse Schooling: Education, Wealth, and Social Engagement in Later Life

“…Our logic is that when students feel that other students respect their ethnic background in diverse school contexts, they are less likely to disengage from school and their classmates (Huo et al 2010). Further, positive interracial contact fosters social engagement and reduces intergroup anxiety (Ramos and Hewstone 2021; Trawalter, Richeson, and Shelton 2009). Though exposure to ethnically diverse contexts in some situations can have short-term negative impacts on social connections and cohesion, positive consequences are more typical (van der Meer and Tolsma 2014).…”

Cultural Diversity Broadens Social Networks

“…Just as social brokers act as hubs in a social network, facilitating the exchange of resources, communities with far-reaching ties and porous borders can act as population-level "brokers" (this makes human society a multilayer network, see Boccaletti et al, 2014;Kivela et al, 2014). Although initial intergroup contact in these culturally-diverse communities is often conflictual, some populations adapt by increasing trust and tolerance of differences (Ramos & Hewstone, 2018).…”