Previous developmental research has consistently detected the presence of an explicit and implicit ingroup preference among preschoolers. More recent research has also demonstrated that this general ingroup bias is influenced by perceived social status when “real” groups are involved (i.e., groups with a previous history of interactions). Indeed, ingroup bias is significantly tempered among low-status group members. The main aim of the current study was to further investigate the role of social status by assessing both implicit and explicit intergroup attitudes in the context of newly formed groups. More specifically, children were randomly assigned to one of two fictitious groups on the basis of trivial criteria, thereby forming the so-called “minimal” groups. To manipulate group status, participants were then informed that one specific group—either the ingroup or the outgroup—was typically better than the other group during competitions. Finally, implicit and explicit intergroup attitudes were assessed. Overall, results showed that children rapidly formed implicit and explicit intergroup attitudes toward newly formed groups. Most important, the perceived status of the groups modulated such intergroup attitudes. Indeed, on both types of measures, ingroup bias emerged when the ingroup was associated with a high status, whereas it disappeared when the ingroup was in a low-status position.

先前的发展研究一致发现学龄前儿童存在显性和隐性的内群体偏好。最近的研究还表明，当涉及到“真实”群体（即具有先前互动历史的群体）时，这种普遍的内群体偏见会受到感知社会地位的影响。事实上，在低地位的群体成员中，群体内的偏见得到了显着的缓和。本研究的主要目的是通过评估新形成的群体背景下的内隐和外显群体间态度，进一步研究社会地位的作用。更具体地说，根据琐碎的标准，儿童被随机分配到两个虚构组中的一个，从而形成所谓的“最小”组。要操纵组状态，然后参与者被告知，一个特定的组——无论是内组还是外组——在比赛中通常比另一组更好。最后，评估了内隐和外显的群体间态度。总体而言，结果表明，儿童对新形成的群体迅速形成了内隐和外显的群体间态度。最重要的是，群体的感知状态调节了这种群体间的态度。事实上，在两种类型的测量中，当内群体处于高地位时就会出现内群体偏见，而当内群体处于低地位时它就会消失。结果表明，儿童对新形成的群体迅速形成了内隐和外显的群体间态度。最重要的是，群体的感知状态调节了这种群体间的态度。事实上，在两种类型的测量中，当内群体处于高地位时就会出现内群体偏见，而当内群体处于低地位时它就会消失。结果表明，儿童对新形成的群体迅速形成了内隐和外显的群体间态度。最重要的是，群体的感知状态调节了这种群体间的态度。事实上，在两种类型的测量中，当内群体处于高地位时就会出现内群体偏见，而当内群体处于低地位时它就会消失。