Gordon Willard Allport is renowned for his work on the psychology of prejudice and his formulation [Page 16]of the highly influential contact hypothesis. His work pioneered a focus on the cognitive antecedents of prejudice; it demonstrated how social psychological research can address important social issues and have a tangible impact on policy and practice. This entry looks at his life and works.

Allport was born in Montezuma, Indiana, in 1897. His father was a physician, and his mother was a former schoolteacher. When he was 6 years old, his family moved near Cleveland, Ohio, where he spent all his school years. Allport had three older brothers, one of whom, Floyd, was also a social psychologist and contributed to the establishment of modern experimental social psychology. Gordon ...