Does the Apple Fall Far From the Tree?: A study on parental tolerance, preparation for bias and children's prejudice towards the White Dutch among Dutch ethnic minority groups

Interethnic prejudice in children is a widely researched topic when it comes to the perspective of the White majority group on ethnic minority groups. The perspective of ethnic minorities towards the White majority group, however, has been studied less often. Especially in the Netherlands this research is rare. Inspired by social learning theory, the current study examines if there is a relationship between parental tolerance for interethnic contact and children’s ethnic prejudice towards the White majority group among families from two large ethnic minority groups (Afro-/Turkish-Dutch) in the Netherlands, and whether this relationship varies based on parents preparing children for bias. Here, we hypothesize that higher parental tolerance for interethnic contact is related to diminished prejudice of ethnic minority children towards children from the White majority group. In addition, preparation for bias is expected to weaken the relationship between parental tolerance and children...Show moreInterethnic prejudice in children is a widely researched topic when it comes to the perspective of the White majority group on ethnic minority groups. The perspective of ethnic minorities towards the White majority group, however, has been studied less often. Especially in the Netherlands this research is rare. Inspired by social learning theory, the current study examines if there is a relationship between parental tolerance for interethnic contact and children’s ethnic prejudice towards the White majority group among families from two large ethnic minority groups (Afro-/Turkish-Dutch) in the Netherlands, and whether this relationship varies based on parents preparing children for bias. Here, we hypothesize that higher parental tolerance for interethnic contact is related to diminished prejudice of ethnic minority children towards children from the White majority group. In addition, preparation for bias is expected to weaken the relationship between parental tolerance and children’s prejudice among the ethnic minority group. This study uses data from the first wave of Leiden University's longitudinal research into the parenting origins of children’s ethnic prejudice. The study includes a subsample of 77 children aged 6 to 10 years (M = 7.8, SD = 0.99) and their mothers. The families have been recruited in the Western region of the Netherlands (Randstad) and are of Afro-Dutch and Turkish-Dutch descent. Parental attitudes were measured using questionnaires, whereas children’s ethnic prejudice was measured using an adapted version of the Preschool Racial Attitude Measure task. Using a hierarchical multiple regression analysis and controlling for children’s interethnic contact with White children, no significant relation was found (p = .22) between parental tolerance and children’s ethnic prejudice towards White children. Furthermore, this relation was not affected by high or low levels of preparation for bias (p = .25). The hypotheses were not confirmed. Relations between parental attitudes and children’s ethnic prejudice may operate differently in ethnic minority families than in White families. More research into this topic is required.Show less

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Does the Apple Fall Far From the Tree? A study on parental tolerance, preparation for bias and children's prejudice towards the White Dutch among Dutch ethnic minority groups