The contribution of children’s ethnic identity to ethnic attitudes

Abstract

Little is also known about the contribution of ethnic identity to the expression of children's attitudes towards the ethnic in-group and out-groups. The present study sought to address this deficit and to explore the influence of ethnic identity on the expression of children's ethnic attitudes. Using an established minimal group paradigm (Nesdale et al., 2003), children's attitudes towards the in-group and competitor out-group were measured. Children's ethnic identity of was measured using a newly developed scale (Ethnic Identity Scale for Children, Griffiths, 2007). Regression analysis was conducted to investigate the influence of age, participant ethnicity, and ethnic identity on the expression of children's ethnic attitudes. Results indicated that the ethnic pride subscale made a positive contribution in the expression of in-group and out-group attitudes, whereas the ethnic comparison subscale contributed only to liking for the in-group.