More than a quarter of the Dutch society claim to have experienced discrimination. Research shows that prejudice and discrimination have many negative effects on both individuals and society. In...Show moreMore than a quarter of the Dutch society claim to have experienced discrimination. Research shows that prejudice and discrimination have many negative effects on both individuals and society. In order to avoid these negative effects, it is important to investigate the underlying mechanisms of prejudice and discrimination. According to existing literature, social categorization is a factor associated with the emergence of discrimination and prejudice. Social categorization in young children is influenced by their environment, for example by (ethnic) socialization of parents. The present study examined whether there was a difference between ethnic socialization in the majority group and the minority group. This was also examined for social categorization based on ethnicity for these two groups. In addition, it was examined whether there was a relationship between ethnic socialization of the mother and social categorization based on the ethnicity of the child. Finally, it was examined whether the ethnicity of the child was a moderator for the relationship between ethnic socialization and social categorization based on ethnicity. Mother's ethnic socialization was measured by a picture book task. Social categorization was measured by the child's segregation preference through a grouping task. The study was conducted in mother-child pairs from the majority group (White-Dutch) and the minority group (Turkish-Dutch and Afro-Dutch). Two independent t-tests showed that there were no differences. No significant difference in ethnic socialization between the majority and minority groups was found. Also, no significant difference in social categorization based on ethnicity was found between the majority and minority groups. A simple regression showed that there was no significant relationship between ethnic socialization and social categorization based on ethnicity. Finally, no significant moderation effect of ethnicity was found. For further research it is advised to extend the measurement method for ethnic socialization and social categorization, so that more detailed measurements can be done.Show less
