Premium
Bridging Group Divides: A Theoretical Overview of the “What” and “How” of Gateway Groups
Author(s) -
Love Angelika,
Levy Aharon
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of social issues
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.618
H-Index - 122
eISSN - 1540-4560
pISSN - 0022-4537
DOI - 10.1111/josi.12327
Subject(s) - gateway (web page) , bridging (networking) , categorization , social identity theory , bridge (graph theory) , social group , realm , social psychology , collective identity , social relation , group (periodic table) , identity (music) , psychology , sociology , computer science , political science , world wide web , medicine , computer security , chemistry , physics , organic chemistry , artificial intelligence , politics , law , acoustics
One of the most recent developments in the realm of intergroup relations is that of the gateway group notion. This conceptual framework addresses the potential of groups with multiple social backgrounds to play a role in the facilitation of positive intergroup relations between their distinct social counterparts (e.g., immigrants as a gateway between home and host countries). Given their shared identity with different social groups, people with multiple identities can potentially bridge the cleft between the two otherwise separate groups with which they are affiliated. In this article, we first provide a theoretical introduction to the gateway group notion and review preliminary experimental and social network‐based research on gateway groups' potential to improve intergroup relations. We then integrate this novel concept with the existing literature on intergroup contact and social categorization and discuss the potential social implications of gateway groups.