Mental contrasting intervention shows no consistent effect on intergroup anxiety or prejudice in White US adults
Two preregistered randomized controlled trials tested mental contrasting interventions for reducing intergroup anxiety and prejudice toward Black people among White US adults. Study 1 (N=300) compared imagining a negative-then-positive interaction with imagining positive-only interactions with either Black or White individuals. Study 2 (N=149) compared imagining a neutral-then-positive interaction with imagining positive-only interactions with Black individuals. Both studies were conducted online with immediate outcome measurement.
In Study 1, the intervention condition showed higher intergroup anxiety compared to controls, with a significant condition × time interaction. However, this effect did not replicate in Study 2. Across both studies, the intervention did not significantly reduce prejudice or increase contact intentions toward Black individuals. No effect sizes, absolute numbers, or p-values were reported for these outcomes.
No adverse events, serious adverse events, discontinuations, or tolerability data were reported. The authors note that their preregistered tests did not support their hypothesis, and the failure to replicate effects across studies constrains claims regarding robustness and generalizability. The practice relevance of these findings was not reported, and the evidence does not support using this specific mental contrasting approach for reducing intergroup anxiety or prejudice in clinical settings.
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