The effects of community service work on reducing ethnic conflict, ethnic hate crimes, and ethnocentric ideology

Recent empirical research has identified the psychological and physical benefits of community service work programs that provide opportunities for positive contact and intergroup cooperation. The goal of this study is to summarize the existing literature that examines the role of community service work activities and programs as an effective intervention method to reduce ethnic conflict, ethnic hate crimes, and ethnocentric ideology. Additionally, community service activities that exist within specific types of outdoor natural (i.e., "green space") environments present additional benefits through increased interdependent cooperative behaviors and reduced bias. Suggestions are made regarding how community service intervention may help in the process of identifying and ultimately reducing the growing problems of ethnic conflict, violence, and ethnocentric ideology.