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How Peer Norms of Inclusion and Exclusion Predict Children's Interest in Cross‐Ethnic Friendships
Author(s) -
Tropp Linda R.,
O'Brien Thomas C.,
Migacheva Katya
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of social issues
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.618
H-Index - 122
eISSN - 1540-4560
pISSN - 0022-4537
DOI - 10.1111/josi.12052
Subject(s) - ethnic group , friendship , inclusion–exclusion principle , psychology , social psychology , inclusion (mineral) , peer group , developmental psychology , minority group , cross cultural , political science , politics , law
The present research examines how perceived inclusive and exclusive peer norms for cross‐ethnic relations contribute to predicting interest in cross‐ethnic friendship among ethnic minority and majority children. Across two survey studies, European American and African American children (Study 1) and European American and Latino American children (Study 2) reported on the extent to which they perceived inclusive and exclusive peer norms for cross‐ethnic relations, as well as their own interest in developing cross‐ethnic friendships. Results from both studies showed that perceiving inclusive norms for cross‐ethnic relations from in‐group peers uniquely predicted children's interest in cross‐group friendships, beyond what can be accounted for by perceiving exclusive norms from in‐group peers and preexisting cross‐group friendships. Similar effects were observed for ethnic minority and majority children, and even after controlling for children's prior cross‐group friendships. Implications of these findings for future research and efforts to promote inclusion among ethnic minority and majority children are discussed.