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Topic
The Science of Reducing Prejudice in Childhood
Date & Time
Selected Sessions:
Apr 3, 2025 02:00 PM
Description
Developmental science perspectives on prejudice provide a window into determining how to reduce social inequalities, prejudicial attitudes, and biases. Children begin to understand concepts of fairness and equality early and recognize that social groups often exclude others for stereotypic reasons which reflect a form of prejudice. Challenging groups to be more inclusive is costly, however, and may result in exclusion from their group which provides protection, safety, and enjoyment. Facilitating positive cross-group friendships helps reduce "in-group vs outgroup" attitudes which are a salient part of why prejudice forms in the first place. The negative consequences of experiencing prejudice and bias include depression, anxiety, and social withdrawal. This necessitates action to promote healthy child development and a more inclusive society. In this talk, I will discuss our recent research findings on children’s viewpoints about fairness and social exclusion. Then I will discuss our school-based program called Developing Inclusive Youth, which was designed to reduce prejudice, change group norms, and increase school belonging. We tested its effectiveness and found promising results, which I will share during the talk.