Mental imagery as a moderator of the effects of imagined contact.

An experiment investigated the moderator role of the individual inclination to use mental imagery on the relationship between imagined contact (IC; Crisp & Turner, 2009) and prejudice. The target of IC was a mentally disabled person. After completing a measure of habitual use of imagery (Paivio, 1971), participants were randomly assigned to the IC versus control condition; finally, they completed measures of empathy and attitude toward mentally disabled people. Results showed that the effects of IC on attitudes were moderated by the habitual use of imagery: IC enhanced attitudes only for participants with higher levels of habitual imagery use; for participants with lower levels of imagery use, IC reduced attitudes through the mediation of reduced empathy. Thus, the habitual use of mental imagery is necessary for the success of IC in ameliorating attitudes toward a highly stigmatized outgroup, with whom simulating positive interactions may require high imagination abilities.