Definition for Contact hypothesis
From Biology Forums Dictionary
The contact hypothesis states that a person's prejudices and stereotypes about a group should be reduced with repeated friendly exposure (contact) to members of equal standing in that group. This provides an opportunity for prejudiced people to learn about members of the group as individuals.
Example: Anna grew up in the East. Her parents always told her that people who spoke with a southern accent were stupid and lazy. When Anna's company relocated her to Texas, she eventually came to enjoy interacting with other employees and found them to be competent at their jobs.