Authors of contact theory have never claimed that it is the only possible method, and the original formulation actually suggested four highly restrictive conditions for it to work. Only more recent researchers have suggested these conditions can be relaxed, though potentially with a drawback of reduced efficacy, though failing to reach these... See more

Interpersonal models of reducing divides between groups are often based on the traditional form of contact theory, sometimes called the contact hypothesis. Contact theory, originally developed in the 1950s, notes that interpersonal contact should reduce prejudice between groups, under the right conditions.