Social norms and self-presentation: children's implicit and explicit intergroup attitudes

Area of Science:

• Social Psychology
• Developmental Psychology

Background:

• Children's intergroup attitudes are influenced by social norms and self-presentation concerns.
• Understanding developmental changes in prejudice and bias is crucial for social cohesion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how social norms and public self-focus impact children's intergroup attitudes.
• To examine age-related differences in the motivation to inhibit prejudice.

Main Methods:

• Two studies involving children aged 6-16 years assessed intergroup attitudes using explicit and implicit measures.
• Experimental manipulation of accountability (public self-focus) was employed.
• Focus on racial and national intergroup attitudes.

Main Results:

• Younger children (under 10) externally suppressed in-group bias under high public self-focus.
• Older children internally motivated bias suppression, showing implicit but not explicit bias.
• Low norm internalization in Study 1 correlated with suppressed out-group prejudice under public self-focus.

Conclusions:

• Children's motivation to inhibit prejudice shifts from external to internal with age.
• Public self-focus can reduce bias, particularly in younger children and those with low norm internalization.
• Findings highlight the interplay of developmental stage, social norms, and self-presentation in shaping intergroup attitudes.