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ERIC Number: EJ1410323
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 7
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1750-8592
EISSN: EISSN-1750-8606
Children's Structural Thinking about Social Inequities
Marianna Y. Zhang; J. Nicky Sullivan; Ellen M. Markman; Steven O. Roberts
Child Development Perspectives, v18 n1 p19-25 2024
Across development, young children reason about why social inequities exist. However, when left to their own devices, young children might engage in "internal thinking," reasoning that the inequity is simply a justified disparity explained by features internal to social groups (e.g., genetics, intellect, abilities, values). Internal thinking could lead them to support and reinforce the inequity (e.g., by blaming the disadvantaged). In contrast, "structural thinking," which appeals to relatively stable features external to social groups (e.g., environments, policies, economic systems), could lead to more prosocial outcomes (e.g., support for social interventions). While researchers have examined adolescents' and adults' structural thinking about social inequities, in this article, we review recent research that suggests that even children as young as 5 can engage in structural thinking. We conclude with suggestions for future studies, particularly research related to how to foster young children's structural thinking in the context of real-world social inequities.
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2191/en-us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A