Early developmental insights into the social construction of race
These videos have been matched automatically. Contact us if they are not relevant.
These videos have been matched automatically. Contact us if they are not relevant.
View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.Children
Area Of Science
- Developmental Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Cultural Psychology
Background
- Societies use ancestry and skin tone to define racial categories, impacting social, economic, and political spheres.
- Rigid racial boundaries, especially for White categorization, have historically relied on ancestry.
- Skin tone, a more fluid characteristic, can blur racial boundaries, yet cross-cultural childhood development studies are scarce.
Purpose Of The Study
- Investigate how children in the United States and Brazil develop racial classification systems.
- Examine the influence of cultural models (ancestry vs. skin tone) on children's racial concepts.
- Understand developmental shifts in racial categorization from early to later childhood.
Main Methods
- Cross-cultural study with 123 children aged 5–12 years from the United States and Brazil.
- Assessed children's understanding of race based on skin tone and ancestry.
- Analyzed age-related differences and cultural variations in racial classification.
Main Results
- Younger children (5–7 years) in both countries linked race to skin tone.
- Older children (10–12 years) diverged: US children favored ancestry, Brazilian children favored skin tone.
- Brazilian older children were more likely to categorize lighter-skinned individuals with African ancestry as White compared to US children.
Conclusions
- Racial classification systems are shaped by both developmental stage and cultural context.
- Cultural beliefs about race are transmitted and evolve during childhood.
- Understanding these influences is crucial for comprehending the persistence of diverse racial categorization frameworks.
These videos have been matched automatically. Contact us if they are not relevant.
These videos have been matched automatically. Contact us if they are not relevant.
Related Concept Videos
Humans are very diverse and although we share many similarities, we also have many differences. The social groups we belong to help form our identities (Tajfel, 1974). These differences may be difficult for some people to reconcile, which may lead to prejudice toward people who are different. Prejudice is a negative attitude and feeling toward an individual based solely on one’s membership in a particular social group (Allport, 1954; Brown, 2010). Prejudice is common against people who...
The nativist approach to infant cognitive development proposes that infants are born with inherent knowledge structures that allow them to interpret the world almost immediately. This perspective contrasts with earlier developmental theories, such as those proposed by Jean Piaget, which emphasized a more gradual acquisition of cognitive abilities through interaction with the environment. One key concept in this approach is object permanence — the understanding that objects continue to...
According to Charles Cooley, we base our image on what we think other people see (Cooley 1902). We imagine how we must appear to others, then react to this speculation. We don certain clothes, prepare our hair in a particular manner, wear makeup, use cologne, and the like—all with the notion that our presentation of ourselves is going to affect how others perceive us. We expect a certain reaction, and, if lucky, we get the one we desire and feel good about it. But more than that, Cooley...
Self-concept is the cognitive and emotional understanding individuals hold about their identity. It evolves through various developmental stages, beginning in infancy and maturing as children grow. This concept influences how individuals perceive their abilities, interact with others, and manage challenges throughout life.
Infancy and Emerging Recognition
During infancy, self-concept is virtually nonexistent. Babies do not distinguish themselves as separate entities and often mistake their...
Adolescents from ethnic minority backgrounds face a multifaceted journey in forming their identities, shaped by the intersections of cultural expectations and personal exploration. For these adolescents, identity formation involves not only typical developmental challenges but also navigating the perceptions and attitudes of the majority culture. As they grow, adolescents in ethnic minority groups often become increasingly aware of stereotypes, social biases, and discrimination, all of which...
Social-emotional experiences and cultural influences play significant roles in shaping gender development. During middle childhood, from ages 6 to 11, peer groups become dominant in reinforcing gender norms. Children in this age group often align with same-gender peer groups, which actively encourage behaviors that conform to traditional gender roles. For instance, boys may be discouraged from engaging in activities perceived as feminine, reinforcing culturally dictated norms about masculinity...