What is the contract hypothesis in relation to prejudice and discrimination?

The contact hypothesis suggests that increased contact between different groups can help reduce prejudice and discrimination by promoting understanding, empathy, and positive interactions. By interacting with individuals from diverse backgrounds, people are more likely to challenge their stereotypes and biases, leading to improved attitudes and behaviors towards others. However, for the contact hypothesis to be effective, certain conditions such as equal status, common goals, and institutional support need to be present during the interactions.