Developmental science perspectives on prejudice provide a window into determining how to reduce social inequalities, prejudicial attitudes, and biases. Children begin to understand concepts of fairness and equality early and recognize that social groups often exclude others for stereotypic reasons which reflect a form of prejudice. Challenging groups to be more inclusive is costly, however, and may result in exclusion from their group which provides protection, safety, and enjoyment. Facilitating positive cross-group friendships helps reduce "in-group vs outgroup" attitudes which are a salient part of why prejudice forms in the first place. The negative consequences of experiencing prejudice and bias include depression, anxiety, and social withdrawal. This necessitates action to promote healthy child development and a more inclusive society. In this talk, I will discuss our recent research findings on children’s viewpoints about fairness and social exclusion. Then I will discuss our school-based program called Developing Inclusive Youth, which was designed to reduce prejudice, change group norms, and increase school belonging. We tested its effectiveness and found promising results, which I will share during the talk.
Speaker:
Professor Melanie Killen
Dr. Melanie Killen is Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology, Professor of Psychology (Affiliate) and the Director of the Social and Moral Development Lab at the University of Maryland. She is the Editor of the Handbook of Moral Development (2008, 2014, 2022) and has over 265 publications. Commissioned by Anderson Cooper at CNN AC360, Dr. Killen and her team conducted a study on children’s racial bias for a set of stories aired on CNN AC360, “Kids on Race: The Hidden Picture” in April 2012 which won an Emmy Award for Outstanding News and Analysis. Dr. Killen is an elected member of the National Academy of Education. She is funded by the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes for Child Health and Human Development for her research. She studies social cognition and moral reasoning, social exclusion and inclusion, stereotypes and bias, intergroup attitudes and relationships, conceptions of social inequalities, broadening participation in STEM, and school-based programs to facilitate inclusive classroom environments.
This Event is Co-Sponsored by:
