Children's biased preference for information about in- and out-groups

Dev Psychol. 2022 Mar;58(3):493-509. doi: 10.1037/dev0001304. Epub 2021 Dec 23.

Abstract

Children's intergroup attitudes arguably reflect different construals of in- and out-groups, whereby the former are viewed as composed of unique individuals and the latter of homogeneous members. In three studies, we investigated the scope of information (individual vs. category) Jewish-Israeli 5- and 8-year-olds prefer to receive about "real" in-group ("Jews") and out-group members ("Arabs" and "Scots") (Study 1, N = 64); the scope of information Jewish and Arab Israeli 8-year-olds prefer to receive about minimal in- and out-groups (Study 2, N = 64); and how providing such information affects children's intergroup attitudes (Study 3, N = 96). The main findings were that (a) 8-year-olds requested category information more about out-groups than in-groups, and vice-versa regarding individual information-for both, "real" and minimal groups, and (b) providing individual information about a "conflict" out-group reduced attitudinal biases. These findings highlight children's differential construal of in- and out-groups and suggest ways for remedying biases toward out-groups. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

MeSH terms

  • Arabs*
  • Attitude
  • Child
  • Humans
  • Israel
  • Jews*

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