A study is reported that seeks to examine 5-, 7-, and 10-year-old children's internalization of in-groups within the self-concept. Methodologically, the study draws upon the self-reference effect, extending it to the group-level identity. In particular, it was found that participants' encoding of information with reference to in-groups (family,…

Examined hypothesis that even before children have identified themselves as members of national groups, they will have been exposed to considerable positive information about their own national group, which will encourage group-serving judgments. Found that significant preferences emerged for the in-group on two of three measures. Findings suggest…

Investigates children's conceptions of the characteristic features of category members. Hypothesized that (1) children initially perceive category members in terms of individual characteristics and (2) only later do children conceive of category members in terms of shared beliefs and values. Two separate studies confirm the hypotheses. (CMK)