Learning and Socializing Preferences in Hong Kong Chinese Children

Abstract

The impact of social group information on the learning and socializing preferences of Hong Kong Chinese children were examined. Specifically, the degree to which variability in racial out-group exposure affects children's use of race to make decisions about unfamiliar individuals (Chinese, White, Southeast Asian) was investigated. Participants (N = 212; M = 60.51 months) chose functions for novel objects after informants demonstrated their use; indicated with which peer group member to socialize; and were measured on racial group recognition, preference, and identification. Overall, children preferred in-group members, though out-group exposure and the relative social status of out-groups mattered as well. At a young age, children's specific experiences with different races influence how they learn and befriend others across racial group lines.

Differential developmental courses of implicit and explicit biases for different other-race classes.

“…It is also possible that implicit and explicit racial biases might be affected by different factors. Implicit racial bias may be influenced to a greater extent by direct perceptual experiences, such as different levels of exposure to own- and other-race faces (Prestwich, Kenworthy, Wilson, & Kwan-Tat, 2008), racial diversity in children’s daily environment (Chen et al, 2018; McGlothlin & Killen, 2006), and the expertise to recognize and differentiate between own- and other-race people (Qian et al, 2017a, 2017b; Xiao et al, 2015). Explicit racial bias, on the other hand, may be more vulnerable to social interactions, such as interracial friendship and social learning from parents and peers (Gawronski & Bodenhausen, 2006; Pettigrew & Tropp, 2006).…”

“…Prior research suggests that by preschool age, children already associate race and wealth (an indicator for social status) and prefer racial groups who are rich (Mandalaywala, Rhodes, & Tai, 2019;Newheiser et al, 2014;Olson, Shutts, Kinzler, & Weisman, 2012;Rudman, Feinberg, & Fairchild, 2002). Chen, Corriveau, Lai, Poon, and Gaither (2018) found that 4-to 6-year-olds from Hong Kong preferred higher status outgroup Whites to lower status outgroup Southeast Asians. There is also some evidence suggesting that children's preference for high status individuals relates to their racial preferences: Newheiser and Olson (2012) found that 7to 11-year-old Black American children's preference for wealthy people was associated with an implicit preference for Whites (see also Newheiser et al, 2014).…”

Gender stereotypes are racialized: A cross-cultural investigation of gender stereotypes about intellectual talents.

“…Comparing Chinese children’s gender brilliance stereotype about Asians to that of White people presents a compelling context to tease apart the two social factors. Asians are the racial majority in China, and yet they are associated with lower social status relative to White people with relation to historical reasons (Chen et al, 2018; Goon & Craven, 2003; Lan, 2016; Qian et al, 2016, 2019; Stohry et al, 2021). For example, Chinese adults perceived White people as obtaining higher education and more prestigious jobs than Asians (Qian et al, 2016), and Chinese children became more likely to match expensive possessions with Whites than Asians with age (Qian et al, 2019).…”

Moral rigidity as a proximate facilitator of group cohesion and combativeness

“…Although the drive to affiliate with socially similar others is considered to be a fairly ubiquitous phenomenon (Meltzoff 2007), some researchers have emphasized the role of early sociocultural experiences in the development of in-group positivity. For example, minority race children can exhibit less favoritism for in-group members compared with majority (white) children (Margie et al 2005;Shutts et al 2011), and variability in socialization with and exposure to different racial groups can shape young children's social preferences (Chen et al 2018;Gaither et al 2014).…”