How do explanations for inequality impact stereotyping in children?

Abstract

Children, like adults, naturally form explanations to make sense of the social disparities they observe. The kinds of explanations children form are varied, and include biological, behavioral, and structural explanations. In reasoning through why disparities exist, children's explanations can either mitigate or reinforce their prejudices and stereotypes. Past research has found that structural explanations can reduce prejudice, by helping children to view groups as externally disadvantaged rather than internally inferior. However, in this study, I explore whether structural explanations can also unfortunately reinforce stereotypes about disadvantaged groups. Child participants (n = 60) were told a story about fictional groups; the Boubas and Kikis. Participants were told that a Bouba was better at a task than a Kiki, and they were given an explanation for why this was (either a biological, behavioral, structural, or no explanation, across four between-subjects conditions). Participants then responded to questions about whether other Boubas or Kikis would be good or bad at the task. Results revealed that children formed stereotypes about the Boubas and Kiki (i.e., expecting other Boubas to be good at the task and other Kikis to be bad at the task) in all three experimental conditions, including the structural condition. Implications are discussed.