The opportunities and challenges of diversity: Explaining its impact on individuals and groups

Abstract

Demographic trends reveal that modern societies have become increasingly diverse.Within the social sciences, these changes have been reflected in concerns about the implications of social diversity. Whilst early research noted that diversity may have negative consequences for societies and individuals, more recent scholarship has indicated that diversity is not always translated into negative outcomes. These inconsistent findings initiated a scholarly debate concerning the impact of many different forms of diversity for a host of social outcomes. It is now clear that the boundary conditions of these effects are yet to be fully understood. This Special Issue offers a collection of research advances identifying mediating and moderating variables addressing when and why diversity impacts intergroup relational outcomes. By focusing on different levels of diversity (i.e., in the society and in groups), this research also sheds light on the effectiveness of ideologies and policies for managing diversity.Word count: 146 THE OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES OF DIVERSITY 4

Change in school ethnic diversity and intergroup relations: The transition from segregated elementary to mixed secondary school for majority and minority students

“…Although these findings are based on only one mixed elementary school, they are in line with previous research in Europe that shows positive effects of ethnic diversity on intergroup relations (Hewstone, ; Ramos et al., ; Wölfer et al., ). The findings are also consistent with research from the United States, showing that both prejudice and use of stereotypes are lower, and cross‐group friendship intentions are higher, in ethnically diverse (vs segregated) schools (Killen et al., ; McGlothlin & Killen, ).…”

“…A limitation of previous research on the link between diversity and intergroup relations is to not explicitly consider intergroup contact. Recent research has shed new light on how diversity affects intergroup relations by taking into account mediating processes between diversity and intergroup outcomes, and shown the key roles played, in particular, by intergroup contact and perceived intergroup threat (Ramos, Hewstone, Barreto, & Branscombe, ; Schmid, Tausch, Hewstone, Hughes, & Cairns, ; Schmid et al., ). Importantly, research has provided cross‐sectional and longitudinal evidence for the positive effects of contact on prejudice on both the individual level and, if people have contact in diverse settings, the societal level.…”

On melting pots and salad bowls: A meta-analysis of the effects of identity-blind and identity-conscious diversity ideologies.

“…Given that diversity is a source of both opportunities and challenges, it is not surprising that a large body of work exists on strategies for facilitating positive, high quality interactions in diverse settings, thereby preventing the potential downsides of diversity (e.g., Joshi & Roh, 2009; Ramos, Hewstone, Barreto, & Branscombe, 2016). Within this literature, one stream of research focuses on the implications of encouraging different diversity ideologies, defined as individuals’ beliefs regarding the importance of demographic differences and how to navigate them (e.g., Thomas, Plaut, & Tran, 2014; Wolsko, Park, Judd, & Wittenbrink, 2000).…”

The Janus of Diversity: May the Ideology of Individual Diversity Rationalize Social Inequalities?

“…Diversity is about social heterogeneity along various dimensions, such as ethnicity, culture, religion, and age (Ramos, Hewstone, Barreto, & Branscombe, ); however, ideas about diversity that circulate in society also encapsulate some representation of homogeneity. Sociologists Boli and Elliott () see a “powerful idea of sameness through diversity” behind an emerging world culture of diversity: “By coming together, proclaiming our differences, and accepting each other in a wholehearted embrace that accords equal dignity and rights and worth to all, we demonstrate, in the end, our utter indifference to those differences.…”