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Countering Youth's Negative Stereotypes of Teens Fosters Constructive Behavior
Author(s) -
Qu Yang,
Pomerantz Eva M.,
Wu Guohong
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
child development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1467-8624
pISSN - 0009-3920
DOI - 10.1111/cdev.13156
Subject(s) - flourishing , psychology , intervention (counseling) , constructive , positive youth development , developmental psychology , social psychology , adolescent development , youth engagement , process (computing) , psychiatry , computer science , operating system , political science , law
Adolescence can be a time of unconstructive behavior for many youth. This research examined if an intervention countering youth's stereotypes of teens as irresponsible fosters their constructive behavior. In two experimental intervention studies ( N s = 124 and 319) with seventh graders, stereotypes of teens as irresponsible were described as inaccurate portrayals; youth then provided their own observations of teens acting responsibly. Youth in this counterstereotyping intervention (vs. the control) held higher intentions for academic engagement and performed better on an academic task (i.e., a word‐search puzzle). Over the 3 days following the intervention, their academic engagement was higher. Youth's risk taking was also reduced. Redirecting youth to see teens as responsible has the potential to provide a foundation for flourishing.