ERIC Number: EJ897574
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010-Jun
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0261-510X
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Effects of Information about Group Members on Young Children's Attitudes towards the In-Group and Out-Group
Nesdale, Drew; Lawson, Michael J.; Durkin, Kevin; Duffy, Amanda
British Journal of Developmental Psychology, v28 n2 p467-482 Jun 2010
Research shows that being a member of a group is sufficient to instigate more positive attitudes towards the in-group than an out-group in young children. The present study assessed whether children's intergroup attitudes during the middle childhood years are moderated by additional information about in-group and out-group members, as proposed by Aboud's (1988) socio-cognitive theory (ST). To a minimal group 6-, 8-, and 10-year-old children (N = 159) were assigned, and received information, or no information, about the interests and activities of the in-group and out-group members. Results indicated that the in-group was always rated more positively than the out-group, and that the in-group's ratings were unaffected by either the in-group or out-group information. In contrast, out-group ratings were affected by out-group information, but only when there was no information available about the in-group. The implications of the findings for ST, and for social identity development theory, are discussed.
Descriptors: Ethnicity, Epistemology, Group Dynamics, Peer Acceptance, Peer Relationship, Children, Social Theories, Social Cognition, Age Differences, Identification (Psychology), Child Development, Social Status
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
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Language: English
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