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How to Address Prejudice and Discrimination in Childhood and Adolescence

Wed, April 7, 4:20 to 5:50pm EDT (4:20 to 5:50pm EDT), Virtual

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Abstract

Research has revealed the complexity of how biases develop throughout childhood and adolescence. In particular, peers, teachers, and parents play an influential role in either promoting the fair treatment of others or perpetuating discriminatory attitudes. This international symposium brings together a broad scope of research that addresses how discrimination manifests and examines factors that may reduce or exacerbate negative intergroup attitudes. Paper 1 reports on children’s and adolescents’ perceptions of bystander reactions of social exclusion towards immigrant peers. Children, but not adolescents, were more likely to expect bystanders to help an immigrant peer experiencing social exclusion when the victim was a similar ethnicity compared to when they were different ethnicity. Paper 2 describes a multivariate network analysis which revealed that adolescents were more likely to develop and maintain cross-ethnic friendships when those relationships were supported by the potential cross-ethnic peer’s pre-existing friendships. Paper 3 reports on Black parents’ perceptions of White parents’ existing socialization strategies and Black parents’ suggestions for socialization strategies, to counteract colorblind approaches while considering White parents’ beliefs that the topic is too difficult to address. Paper 4 evaluates a classroom intervention study for children involving a web-based tool and teacher led discussion. Findings indicate that the program was effective, leading children to desire cross-group friendships and attribute positive academic competencies for minority peers and girls. Prejudice is not one set of behaviors; nor is there a single “prejudice test.” This symposium provides novel methodologies and findings for reducing prejudice, discrimination, and bias in childhood and adolescence.

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