Title: Prejudice and social norms in the school class Findings from two studies among Hungarian adolescents

Date: 4th June 2019, 13:00

Venue: HAS CSS RECENS, Meeting Room (T.1.40)

Address: H-1097 Budapest Tóth Kálmán street 4.

Abstract:

Ethnic prejudice can lead to exclusion and hinder social integration. Prejudices are formed throughout socialisation and it is known that social norms inform individuals about the acceptability of prejudice against certain outgroups. Adolescents, striving for acceptability from their peers, might be especially motivated to follow the norms in their school classes. But the mechanisms related to the perception, formation, and effect of the classroom norms on prejudice have been rarely studied. In my research, I ask the questions, how social norms related to the acceptability of prejudice 1) are perceived among adolescents, 2) to what extent they are produced in school classes, 3) and how much they affect attitudes across time? 

In my talk, I will present findings from two separate studies I have conducted among Hungarian adolescents. First, based on results from a cross-sectional study of 1000 adolescents between 12 and 19 years, the relationship between perceived norms and ethnic prejudice will be investigated with specific focus on different reference groups. Then, based on a more recent panel study conducted among 1400 ninth-graders, preliminary findings regarding the formation of class norms and their relation to ethnic prejudice will be discussed.

Results from the two quantitative studies will be contrasted with qualitative findings based on group discussions with adolescents from the same age groups. Finally, the question whether and how these results can be used for prejudice reduction in schools will be discussed.