Toward a Psychology of Improving Justice: Research on Extending the Equality Principle to Victims of Social Injustice

Data from two quasi‐experimental and two experimental studies of cooperative, equal‐status, interracial contact are presented. The results show increases in favorable beliefs about and liking for Blacks by formerly prejudiced Whites. Such changes are accompanied by greater readiness to extend equality of social benefits (e.g., unsegregated housing, education, and employment) to Black persons. This illustrates one approach to the goal of extending the scope of social justice to subordinate groups from whom it is often withheld. Research relevant to other approaches to the goal is also discussed. The cumulative evidence represents a beginning step in formulating a psychology of improving justice.