Psychology of Prejudice and Discrimination The Development of Prejudice in Children Prepared by Prof. Saterfield for Whitley and kite, 2006

The Development of Prejudice in Children Theories and Research on the development of prejudice in children Children’s awareness of social categories Foundations for preferences, attitudes, and behaviors towards members of other social group Race, gender, other characteristic Prepared by Prof. Saterfield for Whitley and kite, 2006

The Development of Prejudice in Children Theories and Research on the development of prejudice in children Development of prejudice organized in two social dimensions Race Gender Prepared by Prof. Saterfield for Whitley and kite, 2006

The Development of Prejudice in Children Theories and Research on the development of prejudice in children Three types of Theories of prejudice: Social Learning Inner state theories Cognitive development theories Prepared by Prof. Saterfield for Whitley and kite, 2006

Research: Development of Prejudice in Children Jane Elliott’s Lesson on Discrimination Blue-eyed/Brown-eyed Dr. Kenneth and Mamie Clark’s The doll technique Prepared by Prof. Saterfield for Whitley and kite, 2006

Awareness of Social Categories Social Awareness Categories Implicit awareness—nonverbal, subconscious categorization: habituation paradigm Explicit awareness—is conscious awareness of particular social groups Prepared by Prof. Saterfield for Whitley and kite, 2006

Awareness of Social Categories Social Awareness Categories Infants are implicitly aware of Gender Age Physical attractiveness By age 6 months Prepared by Prof. Saterfield for Whitley and kite, 2006

Awareness of Social Categories Category preference—children select or prefer one group over another Prejudice—refers to an evaluative response toward the members of some group Discrimination—refers to behaviors directed toward social groups who are the object of prejudice Prepared by Prof. Saterfield for Whitley and kite, 2006

Awareness of Social Categories Categorization helps children develop accurate pictures of their social world Forming accurate perception of the world Prejudiced children respond negatively to distinctions they note Unprejudiced children respond not Prepared by Prof. Saterfield for Whitley and kite, 2006

Awareness of Social Categories Awareness: Two Types Explicit awareness—conscious awareness of particular social groups Implicit awareness—children aware before begin using language to place labels on groups, preverbal Prepared by Prof. Saterfield for Whitley and kite, 2006

Awareness of Social Categories Implicit awareness Emerges earlier in development, infancy Before children acquire language Awareness of gender, attractiveness and age Without verbalization Habituation paradigm Prepared by Prof. Saterfield for Whitley and kite, 2006

Awareness of Social Categories Explicit awareness (conscious awareness) Children have accurate knowledge of social categories Apply labels correctly or identify Preschool years are critical in the development a social groups based on race (4 & 5 yrs. Old) and gender (3 yrs. Old) Prepared by Prof. Saterfield for Whitley and kite, 2006

Awareness of Social Categories Children make many social-group-based categorical distinctions in preschool years. But does making these sorts of distinctions lead to prejudice? Prepared by Prof. Saterfield for Whitley and kite, 2006

Development of Prejudice The Development of Racial Prejudice Methodological issues Forced choice method- Color Meaning Test (CMT) Preschool Racial Attitude Measure (PRAM II) Continuous measure of prejudice Sociometric ratings White children’s attitudes Black children’s attitudes Attitudes of children from other groups Intergroup behavior Prepared by Prof. Saterfield for Whitley and kite, 2006

Development of Prejudice The Development of Racial Prejudice Development of Gender-Based prejudice Origins Gender constancy Homosocially Other children’s attitudes Intergroup behavior Prepared by Prof. Saterfield for Whitley and kite, 2006

Theories of Prejudice Development Social Learning Theory Inner State Theory Cognitive Development Theory Prepared by Prof. Saterfield for Whitley and kite, 2006

Theories of Prejudice Development Social Learning Theory Bandura, 1977 Direct teaching Indirect teaching Prepared by Prof. Saterfield for Whitley and kite, 2006

Theories of Prejudice Development Inner State Theory Personality Genetic Influences Social Leaning Prepared by Prof. Saterfield for Whitley and kite, 2006

Theories of Prejudice Development Cognitive Development Theories Piaget’s Theory Egocentrism—focus on oneself Centration—focus on a single piece of information Aboud’s Theory Process sequence—emotional state to perception and cognition Attention sequence--processes of sequence Prepared by Prof. Saterfield for Whitley and kite, 2006