The DOI matches its Crossref record; 92 of the 96 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
The greatest magic of Harry Potter: 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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“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
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“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
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Flagged first, then by citations
4 of the 96 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.
Research works printed but not linked: 11
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Fiction: Simulation of Social Worlds
Oatley, K. (2016) · Trends in Cognitive Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.tics.2016.06.002 · Cited by 461
Improving intergroup relations with extended and vicarious forms of indirect contact
Vezzali, L., Hewstone, M., Capozza, D., Giovannini, D., & Wölfer, R. (2014) · European Review of Social Psychology · doi:10.1080/10463283.2014.982948 · Cited by 303
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On the Usefulness of Narratives: An Interdisciplinary Review and Theoretical Model
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Metadata
- 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
- 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 › Communication › 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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