Exploring the Impact of Educational Television and Parent-Child Discussions on Children's Racial Attitudes

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to test the potential of educational television and parent-child discussions about race to change White children's attitudes toward Blacks. Ninety-three White children ages 5-7 and their parents participated. Families were randomly assigned into three experimental groups and one control group. Those in the experimental groups were asked either to show their children five educational videos, with or without additional discussions, or to have racerelated discussions with their children without the videos. Improvements were seen in children's out-group attitudes in both the video and discussion groups, whereas in-group attitudes decreased for those who watched videos and had discussions with their parents. Results revealed lack of parental compliance. Even when instructed to do so, only 10% of parents reported having in-depth race-related discussions with their children. Children's racial attitudes were not significantly correlated with those of their parents, but children's perceptions of their parents' attitudes were positively correlated with their own. Reasons for parents' reticence about race discussions, their outcome implications, and directions for future research and intervention are discussed.By the time they are 6 years old, many children are showing in-group favoritism toward their own race, which some have interpreted as a developing prejudice toward people of other racial and ethnic groups (

Bias Awareness Predicts Color Conscious Racial Socialization Methods among White Parents

“…Studies that have examined White parents’ socialization about race and racial issues in society indicate that rates of socialization are much lower than 44% (Pahlke et al., ; Vittrup & Holden, ). Pahlke et al., investigated explicit racial socialization among White American mothers and their young (4‐ to 6‐year‐old) children, finding that in an experimental setting, most mothers (95%) avoided explicitly discussing race with their children while reading a diversity‐themed story.…”

“…White adults are particularly likely to avoid these topics in conversation with their children. For example, in one study, only 10% of White parents reported having in‐depth, race‐related discussions with their children, even when instructed to do so (Vittrup & Holden, ); this avoidance of race discussions seems to occur even among parents who think that discussing race is important (Pahlke, Bigler, & Suizzo, ). For example, although the majority (81%) of White parents in a recent study thought that it was important to discuss race with their children, 70% indicated that they had never explicitly done so (Vittrup, ).…”

“…Moreover, in instances in which White parents do discuss race with their children, they often take a color blind approach—in which they emphasize a belief that race does not matter—instead of a color conscious approach—in which they acknowledge and address race‐related issues (Pahlke et al., ; Vittrup, ). Given that color conscious racial socialization methods are predictive of reduced racial bias in White children (Hughes, Bigler, & Levy, ; Katz, ; Vittrup & Holden, ), understanding the mechanisms that may be associated with White parents’ willingness to discuss race‐related events and acknowledge racism with their White children is important. In the current study, we explore the individual difference factors that may be associated with White parents’ willingness to take a color conscious approach to conversations with their children.…”

From Meta to Micro

“…In a recent study, Vittrup and Holden (2010) randomly assigned White 5 to 7 year olds and their parents to watch videos featuring positive depictions of African Americans, or to discuss race without watching the videos, or to watch the videos and discuss. Unfortunately, children seem unlikely to be helped in this matter by adult coviewers.…”

Diversity Science and Institutional Design

“…In a study examining the influence of racially diverse educational television and parentchild discussions about race on White children's racial attitudes, families with children ages 5 to 7 were assigned to a control group or to one of three experimental groups, in which they were asked to show their children the videos with or without parent-child discussions, or to have discussions without showing any videos (Vittrup & Holden, 2011).…”