Effects of Undergoing Arbitrary Discrimination Upon Subsequent Attitudes Toward a Minority Group¹

Abstract

The purpose of the experiment was to test the hypothesis that having been both the object of prejudice and discrimination and the discriminator, a child will be less likely to hold prejudiced beliefs and exhibit discriminatory behavior toward a minority group. A 3rd‐grade class was randomly divided into Orange and Green people. On Day I, Orange children were “superior” and Green children were “inferior”. On Day II, statuses were rcvcrsed. On Day III and again 2 weeks later, the experimental class was significantly more likely to desire a picnic with a group of Black children and held less‐prejudiced beliefs when compared to the Control. The manipulation did not affect performance on Days I and II.

Race, Knowledge Construction, and Education in the USA: Lessons from history

“…A number of researchers investigated the effects of curriculum interventions such as teaching units and lessons, multiethnic materials, role-playing, and simulation on children's racial attitudes between 1969 and 1980. These investigators included Litcher and Johnson (1969), Weiner and Wright (1973), and Yawkey and Blackwell (1974). In general, these studies indicate that curriculum interventions can modify student racial attitudes if certain conditions exist in the experimental situations.…”

High School‐Aged Youths' Attitudes Toward their Peers with Disabilities: the role of school and student interpersonal Factors

“…Also, it may be that students with social anxiety are victims of bullying and harassment, and consequently, feel an af®nity with other students who are also victims. Past research indicates that children who have experienced prejudice themselves hold less prejudiced attitudes toward minority groups (Weiner & Wright, 1973).…”

How Do Children Stigmatize People With Mental Illness?

“…Research on high school and college students have shown that blue-eyed/brown-eyed role playing leads to diminished prejudice (Breckheimer & Nelson, 1976;Byrnes & Kiger, 1992); we are aware of only one study that has tested this approach on younger children. Weiner and Wright (1973) used an armband version of Elliot's approach (randomly assigned to wearing green or orange armbands) and found that White third graders in the role-play group were signifi cantly more likely to attend a picnic with peers than those in a control group. Note that these effects seem to be non-specifi c; children diminished their prejudice towards African American peers after participating in the role play even though the exercise did not specifi cally address ethnic issues.…”