Intergroup resource allocation among children from minority and majority groups in three settings of former conflict

Area of Science:

• Social Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Conflict Studies

Background:

• Intergroup conflict and resource allocation are critical areas of social psychology.
• Understanding children's behavior in post-conflict settings is vital for reconciliation.
• Previous research often focuses on adults, leaving a gap in understanding child development in these contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine intergroup resource allocation among children in regions with a history of ethno-religious conflict.
• To investigate the influence of age, group status (minority/majority), and setting on resource distribution.
• To explore the potential for equitable resource allocation in fostering conflict transformation.

Main Methods:

• Study involved 333 children aged 7-11 from minority and majority groups in North Macedonia, Croatia, and Northern Ireland.
• Resource allocation was assessed in the context of novel targets representing historic conflict rivals.
• Data collected between January and June 2021 from predominantly White, middle-class families.

Main Results:

• Both minority and majority children demonstrated ingroup bias in resource allocation towards their own group.
• Majority children were more inclined than minority children to allocate resources equally, maintaining the status quo.
• The tendency to give equally increased with age for both groups, irrespective of the conflict setting.

Conclusions:

• Children exhibit ingroup favoritism even when allocating resources to novel targets representing past rivals.
• Despite conflict settings, age-related increases in equitable resource allocation suggest potential for positive intergroup relations.
• Findings highlight the role of equitable resource distribution in conflict transformation processes among youth.