Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Assessment of Social Transmission of Food Preferences Behaviors
Published on: January 25, 2018
The transmission of racial attitudes within the family
Luigi Castelli1, Cristina Zogmaister, Silvia Tomelleri
1Department of Developmental and Socialization Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy. castelli.luigi@unipd.it
Abstract:
Previous literature based on self-report measures has not found a clear relationship between the ethnic attitudes of White parents and those of their children. In particular, no study has evidenced such a relationship in the case of preschool children. In the present study, the authors measured parents' implicit and explicit racial attitudes as well as the racial attitudes of their 3- to 6-year-old children. They found that parents' explicit attitudes were not related to children's responses. In contrast, mothers' implicit attitudes (but not fathers' implicit attitudes) were significant predictors of children's attitudes. Results demonstrate that early racial attitudes might develop within the family.
Related Concept Videos
Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination
Attitudes
Surveys
Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture
Sources of Self-Esteem I: Family Experience
Relationship with Other Adult Family Members and Siblings

