Department of Social Psychology, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Br J Dev Psychol. 2019 Nov;37(4):447-460. doi: 10.1111/bjdp.12285. Epub 2019 Apr 19.
Previous research has shown that children's intergroup similarity judgements are based not only on ethnicity but also on other dimensions such as sports interest. The present research investigates the role of personality in perceived similarity between ingroup children and refugee outgroup children. A study was conducted among 9- to 12-year-old children (N = 124) at two elementary schools in the Netherlands. It was predicted and found that children take into account ethnicity as well as personality (whether a child is introverted or extraverted) when judging similarity of ingroup (Dutch) and outgroup (refugee) children. Furthermore, we predicted and found that greater perceived similarity between Dutch children and refugee children was associated with more positive attitudes towards refugee children. Finally, children felt lower levels of anxiety towards an extraverted compared to an introverted refugee child. Lower anxiety, in turn, was associated with more positive attitudes towards refugee children. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. Statement of contribution What is already known? McGlothlin et al. (2005, British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 23, 227) found that similarity ratings are based not only on ethnicity but also on sports interest. Studies among adults show that extraversion is negatively related to anxiety and positively to cross-group friendships. What does this study add? The present study shows that children also base similarity ratings on the personality trait extraversion. Higher similarity between self/ingroup and refugee children is related to positive outgroup attitudes. This study shows that extraverted children feel less anxiety to an extraverted refugee child. Lower anxiety in children is related to more positive attitudes to refugee children in general.
先前的研究表明，儿童的群体间相似性判断不仅基于种族，还基于其他维度，如运动兴趣。本研究调查了人格在群体内儿童和难民外群体儿童之间感知相似性中的作用。在荷兰的两所小学，对 9 至 12 岁的儿童（N=124）进行了一项研究。研究预测并发现，儿童在判断群体内（荷兰）和群体外（难民）儿童的相似性时，会考虑种族以及人格（孩子是内向还是外向）。此外，我们预测并发现，荷兰儿童和难民儿童之间的感知相似性越大，对难民儿童的态度越积极。最后，儿童对外向的难民儿童的焦虑感低于对内向的难民儿童。较低的焦虑感与对难民儿童更积极的态度有关。讨论了理论和实践意义。 研究贡献 已知的内容是什么？McGlothlin 等人（2005，《英国发展心理学杂志》，23，227）发现，相似性评价不仅基于种族，还基于运动兴趣。成人研究表明，外向性与焦虑呈负相关，与跨群体友谊呈正相关。 这项研究有什么新发现？本研究表明，儿童也根据外向性这一人格特质来进行相似性评价。自我/群体和难民儿童之间的相似性越高，对外群体的态度越积极。本研究表明，外向的儿童对外向的难民儿童的焦虑感较低。儿童的焦虑感越低，对难民儿童的态度越积极。
