Similarity enhances psychological compatibility: Serial mediation effect of psychological kinship and intergroup contact

Abstract

Purpose: This study elucidates the relationship between similarity and ethnic psychological compatibility and its underlying psychological mechanisms. According to kin selection theory, similarity can promote ethnic psychological compatibility by enhancing psychological kinship and intergroup contact. Participants: and methods: A questionnaire survey was administered to 1523 participants from 25 ethnic groups in China. Data analysis was carried out via conditional process modelling. A multigroup comparison of mediation models between the ethnic majority and minorities was detected via the Stats Tools Package. Results: Our findings demonstrated that: (1) cultural and attitude similarity both showed a significant positive correlation with ethnic psychological compatibility; (2) psychological kinship and intergroup contact served as mediators in the relationship of attitude and cultural similarity with ethnic psychological compatibility and psychological kinship and intergroup contact were independent mediators, while psychological kinship–intergroup contact showed a significant serial mediation effect; (3) there were no significant differences in mediation effects between different ethnic groups. Conclusion: Our findings expand on kin selection theory and provide valuable paths for psychologically supporting ethnic psychological compatibility.

Keywords

• Kin selection theory
• Ethnic minorities
• Cultural similarity
• Attitude similarity
• Intergroup relationships