The greatest magic of H arry P otter: Reducing prejudice
Open accessAbstract
Recent research shows that extended contact via story reading is a powerful strategy to improve out‐group attitudes. We conducted three studies to test whether extended contact through reading the popular best‐selling books of H arry P otter improves attitudes toward stigmatized groups (immigrants, homosexuals, refugees). Results from one experimental intervention with elementary school children and from two cross‐sectional studies with high school and university students (in I taly and U nited K ingdom) supported our main hypothesis. Identification with the main character (i.e., H arry P otter) and disidentification from the negative character (i.e., V oldemort) moderated the effect. Perspective taking emerged as the process allowing attitude improvement. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed in the context of extended intergroup contact and social cognitive theory.
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Books can facilitate connections with real life others, for example, by enriching understanding of others and/or developing relationships with those who have shared reading interests and/or experiences.
“In addition to connecting with fictional characters, books can also facilitate connections with real life others, for example, by enriching understanding of others and/or developing relationships with those who have shared reading interests and/or experiences (Merga, 2014; Sellers, 2019; Vezzali et al., 2015).”
From How Does Reading Fiction Support Adolescents’ Wellbeing? A Qualitative Study Examining Positive Affect, Connection and Personal Growth (2025) · cites this paper as Vezzali et al., 2015
The Theoretical implications section reports that reading about Harry Potter’s interactions with stigmatized characters may help readers understand disadvantaged real-world groups. The Practical implications section suggests discussion groups after reading, but our copy does not show that books develop relationships between people with shared reading interests or experiences. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredAdolescents recognized the potential of fiction reading for developing empathy and helping them to understand others.
“In addition to fiction providing a means of better understanding themselves, adolescents also recognized the potential of fiction reading for developing empathy and helping them to understand others (Djikic et al., 2013; Eekhof et al., 2022; Vezzali et al., 2015).”
From How Does Reading Fiction Support Adolescents’ Wellbeing? A Qualitative Study Examining Positive Affect, Connection and Personal Growth (2025) · cites this paper as Vezzali et al., 2015
The Theoretical implications section reports that reading Harry Potter was associated with perspective-taking toward stigmatized groups, which supports the idea that fiction can help readers understand others. But the paper does not report adolescents recognizing that potential themselves; its adolescent study used questionnaires about Harry Potter and social attitudes (Participants and Procedure, page unavailable). The authors also say they did not assess whether reading improved a general ability to understand others’ inner lives. (LLM, conf=0.84)
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- Authors
- Vezzali, L., Stathi, S., Giovannini, D., Capozza, D., & Trifiletti, E.
- Affiliations
- University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (IT)
- University of Greenwich (GB)
- University of Padua (IT)
- University of Verona (IT)
- Corresponding author
- Vezzali, Loris
- Venue
- Journal of Applied Social Psychology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2014-07-23
- Volume
- 45
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 105-121
- ISSN
- 0021-9029 (ISSN-L)
- 1559-1816
- OpenAlex
- W1658184466
- Cited by
- 228
- References
- 96
- Citations by year
- 2026: 19 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 28 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 27 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 49.97
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- Locations
- Journal of Applied Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
- IRIS UNIMORE (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Greenwich Academic Literature Archive (University of Greenwich) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Literature and Literary Theory › Media Influence and Health
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Literature and Literary Theory › Themes in Literature Analysis
- Keywords
- Harry Potter, extended contact, prejudice reduction, outgroup attitudes, stigmatized groups, perspective taking, identification with protagonist, disidentification, social cognitive theory, intergroup contact, immigrants, homosexuals, refugees
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