Learning by Example: Does Positive Nonverbal Behavior Reduce Children's Racial Bias?

• DOI: 10.1111/desc.13614
• Publication Date: 2025-02-05T11:33:57Z
• Authors: Antonya M. Gonzalez; Allison L. Skinner; Andrew Scott Baron
• Keywords: White (mutation); Racial Bias

ABSTRACT Nonverbal behavior is a ubiquitous, everyday cue that often used as basis for social evaluation. Numerous studies indicate children are sensitive to these signals and form evaluative judgments after viewing positive or negative nonverbal cues directed toward target. Furthermore, they generalize other members of targets’ group, indicating displays can influence intergroup bias. However, no thus far have directly examined whether exposure reduce children's implicit explicit racial In the current study, we exposed White Asian ages 9–11 displayed by expresser Black target, drawn from television shows. Children demonstrated pro‐White/anti‐Black bias implicitly, but explicitly preferred over characters. Additionally, judged characters clips novel positively. We found there was difference in between who viewed target compared were only (and cues) unrelated video clips. Future research examining on should consider using more overt prolonged demonstrations increasing familiarity with presented.