Effects of social behavior on interracial acceptance

• Published in: Journal of educational psychology Vol. 73; no. 1; pp. 51 - 56
• Main Authors: Steinberg, Jane A, Hall, Vernon C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, etc American Psychological Association 01-02-1981; American Psychological Association, etc
• Subjects: Black People; Classroom Behavior; Elementary School Students; Human; Kindergarten Students; Racial and Ethnic Relations; Social Acceptance; White People
• ISSN: 0022-0663; 1939-2176
• DOI: 10.1037/0022-0663.73.1.51

To test children's use of race and social behavior as cues in social acceptance, 128 Black and White male kindergartners and 1st graders rated 6 unknown videotaped target children for likability. Targets varied factorially on race (Black or White) and exhibited either positive, negative, or neutral classroom social behavior. Across age, socioeconomic status, and race, Ss used behavior as a cue, accounting for 50% of likability variance. Positive targets were liked equivalently, but Black neutral and negative targets were liked less than White counterparts. Racial but not socioeconomic status differences in the use of behaviors as social cues were found. Negative targets were liked more by Blacks than Whites and neutral targets were liked more by Whites than Blacks. (9 ref)