Over the 20th century, psychologists have made considerable advances in identifying the causes and consequences of fundamental biases such as racism, but have been less successful in developing theories and interventions to reduce these biases. This book focuses on how intergroup biases, including subtle, contemporary forms of racism, can be combated. Specifically, the book begins by tracing how the challenges of addressing aversive racism, an indirect and typically unconscious type of racial bias, led to the development of the Common Ingroup Identity Model. This model outlines strategies for reducing biases that are rooted, in part, in fundamental, normal psychological processes, such as the categorization of people into in-groups, "we's who are favoured," and out-groups, "they's who are not." Thus, changing the nature of categorization from in-groups and out-groups (for example on the basis of race) to one more common, inclusive identity (for example university affiliation or nationality) can harness the cognitive and motivational forces of ingroup favouritism and redirect them to reduce bias.
This process, described by the Common Ingroup Identity Model, not only produces more positive intergroup attitudes and more inclusive and generous standards of justice and fairness but also increases positive and trusting intergroup behaviours, such as helping and personal disclosure. The book considers situations and interventions that can foster more inclusive representations and ways, both theoretically and practically, that a common ingroup identity can facilitate more harmonious intergroup relations.