Question

Jane Elliott's study of prejudice in brown-eyed and blue-eyed grade school students showed us that ____________. a. prejudices are already present in us b. prejudices develop easily in us c. prejudices develop slowly over time d. children do not form prejudices as easily as adults do

Short answer

b. prejudices develop easily in us

Step-by-step solution

Understanding the Problem

In this exercise, we need to determine the key finding from Jane Elliott's study involving eye color to understand how prejudices form in humans.

Analyzing the Research Context

Jane Elliott's study divided children based on their eye color and demonstrated interactions where certain children were treated differently. The purpose was to observe how prejudices and behaviors change under these conditions.

Identifying Patterns from the Study

In the study, children quickly conformed to the assigned prejudice roles and accepted the superiority or inferiority associated with their eye color, showcasing rapid behavior change.

Determining the Conclusion

Since the children quickly adopted and displayed prejudiced behaviors during the experiment, this demonstrates that prejudices develop easily and rapidly when social environments promote them.

Key concepts

Jane Elliott study

The Jane Elliott study is a monumental experiment in understanding prejudice. Conducted in 1968, this study sought to demonstrate how easily and quickly prejudice could be cultivated and observed in children. Jane Elliott, a school teacher, divided her class based on the eye color of her students – brown-eyed and blue-eyed.
Elliott proclaimed that one eye color group was superior to the other, giving more privileges and positive reinforcement to the "superior" group.

• Objective: To show how arbitrary divisions can lead to prejudiced behavior.
• Method: Divide the group by a minor characteristic (eye color) and manipulate their perceived superiority/inferiority.
• Outcome: Rapid adoption of prejudiced attitudes and behaviors among children.

This experiment poignantly demonstrated that prejudice could be instilled swiftly simply through environmental cues and authority endorsements.

social psychology

Social psychology plays a crucial role in understanding how individuals' behaviors are influenced by the social environment. Jane Elliott's study is a classic example of social psychological principles in action.
It illustrates how quickly social categorization and stereotypes can lead to prejudice. By dividing a group (based on eye color), children learned to associate traits and status with these categories.

• Categorization: Dividing people into groups based on perceived differences.
• Stereotyping: Attributing a set of characteristics to all members of a group.
• Conformity: Children adjusted their behavior to align with the socially created roles.

The study highlighted how social influences can rapidly shape behaviors and establish prejudiced norms, reminding us of the powerful impact of societal structures on individual actions.

behavioral change

Understanding the mechanisms of behavioral change is essential to grasp how prejudices are formed. Jane Elliott's study perfectly exemplifies the quick adaptation in behavior when social conditions are manipulated.
The children in the study quickly conformed to the prejudiced roles assigned, modifying their actions accordingly. This swift behavioral change is significant because it shows how flexible, yet susceptible, human behavior can be to external circumstances.

• Role Acceptance: Children self-identified with their assigned roles (superior or inferior).
• Behavior Modification: Actions were altered to match newly assigned prejudices.
• Emotional Impact: Feelings of inferiority or superiority were emotionally engaging, influencing behavior.

This illustrates the concept that behavioral change can be rapid and profound when prompted by social dynamics, hinting at the ease of shaping prejudicial attitudes.

educational experiments

Educational experiments like Jane Elliott's provide insightful lessons on human behavior and social constructs. They serve as controlled environments to study complex phenomena such as prejudice formation and behavioral adaptation.
Jane Elliott's approach used an everyday classroom setting to reveal broader societal issues of discrimination and prejudice. Through her study, we learn:

• The importance of context: Real-world settings can enhance the relevance and impact of experiments.
• Practical insights: Educational experiments can deliver immediate lessons to participants, fostering reflection and learning.
• Realism in research: Such experiments provide a vivid portrayal of societal processes.

Elliott's educational experiment has become a foundational study in understanding prejudice, acclaimed for its practical application and effectiveness in unveiling the malleable nature of human prejudices in educational contexts.