Group norms, threat, and children's racial prejudice

Drew Nesdale*, Kevin Durkin, Anne Maass, Judith Griffiths

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articleResearchpeer-review

169 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

To assess predictions from social identity development theory (SIDT; Nesdale, 2004) concerning children's ethnic/racial prejudice, 197 Anglo-Australian children ages 7 or 9 years participated in a minimal group study as a member of a team that had a norm of inclusion or exclusion. The team was threatened or not threatened by an out-group that was of the same or different race. Consistent with SIDT, prejudice was greater when the ingroup had a norm of exclusion and there was threat from the out-group. Norms and threat also interacted with participant age to influence ethnic attitudes, although prejudice was greatest when the in-group had an exclusion norm and there was out-group threat. The implications of the findings for SIDT are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)652-663
Number of pages12
JournalChild Development
Volume76
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 May 2005
Externally publishedYes

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Group norms, threat, and children's racial prejudice'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this