Priming third-party social exclusion does not elicit children's inclusion of out-group members

This study investigates how culture and priming 3- to 7-year-old children (N = 186) with third-party social exclusion affects their subsequent inclusion of out-group members. Children in societies that tend to value social independence (Germany, New Zealand) and interdependence (Northern Cyprus) wer...

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Main Authors: R. Stengelin, T. Toppe, S. Kansal, L. Tietz, G. Sürer, A. M. E. Henderson, D. B. M. Haun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Royal Society 2022-01-01
Series:Royal Society Open Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.211281
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author R. Stengelin
T. Toppe
S. Kansal
L. Tietz
G. Sürer
A. M. E. Henderson
D. B. M. Haun
author_facet R. Stengelin
T. Toppe
S. Kansal
L. Tietz
G. Sürer
A. M. E. Henderson
D. B. M. Haun
author_sort R. Stengelin
collection DOAJ
description This study investigates how culture and priming 3- to 7-year-old children (N = 186) with third-party social exclusion affects their subsequent inclusion of out-group members. Children in societies that tend to value social independence (Germany, New Zealand) and interdependence (Northern Cyprus) were randomly assigned to minimal groups. Next, they watched video stimuli depicting third-party social exclusion (exclusion condition) or neutral content (control condition). We assessed children's recognition of the social exclusion expressed in the priming videos and their understanding of the emotional consequences thereof. We furthermore assessed children's inclusion behaviour in a ball-tossing game in which participants could include an out-group agent into an in-group interplay. Children across societies detected third-party social exclusion and ascribed lower mood to excluded than non-excluded protagonists. Children from Germany and New Zealand were more likely to include the out-group agent into the in-group interaction than children from Northern Cyprus. Children's social inclusion remained unaffected by their exposure to third-party social exclusion primes. These results suggest that children from diverse societies recognize social exclusion and correctly forecast its negative emotional consequences, but raise doubt on the notion that social exclusion exposure affects subsequent social inclusion.
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spelling doaj.art-c41ff7fb6a524eee82c41f08dc91cf892023-11-24T14:55:22ZengThe Royal SocietyRoyal Society Open Science2054-57032022-01-019110.1098/rsos.211281Priming third-party social exclusion does not elicit children's inclusion of out-group membersR. Stengelin0T. Toppe1S. Kansal2L. Tietz3G. Sürer4A. M. E. Henderson5D. B. M. Haun6Department of Comparative Cultural Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103 Leipzig, GermanyDepartment of Comparative Cultural Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103 Leipzig, GermanyFaculty of Education, University of Leipzig, Marschnerstr. 31, 04109 Leipzig, GermanyDepartment of Comparative Cultural Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103 Leipzig, GermanyFaculty of Education, University of Leipzig, Marschnerstr. 31, 04109 Leipzig, GermanySchool of Psychology, University of Auckland, 23 Symonds St, Auckland 1010, New ZealandDepartment of Comparative Cultural Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103 Leipzig, GermanyThis study investigates how culture and priming 3- to 7-year-old children (N = 186) with third-party social exclusion affects their subsequent inclusion of out-group members. Children in societies that tend to value social independence (Germany, New Zealand) and interdependence (Northern Cyprus) were randomly assigned to minimal groups. Next, they watched video stimuli depicting third-party social exclusion (exclusion condition) or neutral content (control condition). We assessed children's recognition of the social exclusion expressed in the priming videos and their understanding of the emotional consequences thereof. We furthermore assessed children's inclusion behaviour in a ball-tossing game in which participants could include an out-group agent into an in-group interplay. Children across societies detected third-party social exclusion and ascribed lower mood to excluded than non-excluded protagonists. Children from Germany and New Zealand were more likely to include the out-group agent into the in-group interaction than children from Northern Cyprus. Children's social inclusion remained unaffected by their exposure to third-party social exclusion primes. These results suggest that children from diverse societies recognize social exclusion and correctly forecast its negative emotional consequences, but raise doubt on the notion that social exclusion exposure affects subsequent social inclusion.https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.211281exclusioninclusiongroup psychologycross-culturalchild developmentinterdependence
spellingShingle R. Stengelin
T. Toppe
S. Kansal
L. Tietz
G. Sürer
A. M. E. Henderson
D. B. M. Haun
Priming third-party social exclusion does not elicit children's inclusion of out-group members
Royal Society Open Science
exclusion
inclusion
group psychology
cross-cultural
child development
interdependence
title Priming third-party social exclusion does not elicit children's inclusion of out-group members
title_full Priming third-party social exclusion does not elicit children's inclusion of out-group members
title_fullStr Priming third-party social exclusion does not elicit children's inclusion of out-group members
title_full_unstemmed Priming third-party social exclusion does not elicit children's inclusion of out-group members
title_short Priming third-party social exclusion does not elicit children's inclusion of out-group members
title_sort priming third party social exclusion does not elicit children s inclusion of out group members
topic exclusion
inclusion
group psychology
cross-cultural
child development
interdependence
url https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.211281
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