Sharing Behavior and Racial Preference in Children
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-1-1981
Description
Three groups of white children, 43 preschoolers and first-graders, 46 third-graders, and 44 fifth-graders, were asked to choose either a white child or a black child as a recipient of sharing and also as a companion for several social interaction situations ordered for social distance. The preschoolers and first-graders preferred to share and interact socially with the white child. The third-graders and the fifth-graders displayed a weaker preference for the white child over the black child on the sharing task, no preference in situations of high social distance, and a preference for the white child in situations of low social distance. The results from ancillary measures suggested that the choices of the younger children were motivated by a generalized color preference but that the choices of the older children were guided by an awareness of the social meaning of racial categories.
Citation Information
Zinser, Otto; Rich, Marvina C.; and Bailey, Roger C.. 1981. Sharing Behavior and Racial Preference in Children. Motivation and Emotion. Vol.5(2). 179-187. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00993896 ISSN: 0146-7239