Minority children's preference for information about in- and out-groups, and the effect of information provision on their intergroup bias.

This research examined, between 2021 and 2022, Arab Muslim Israeli children's intergroup informational biases. In Study 1, 32 5-year-olds (44% girls), 32 7-year-olds (44% girls), and 53 adults (58% women) viewed images of an Arab individual (in-group), a Jewish individual (conflict out-group), and a Scottish individual (non-conflict out-group), and had to choose individual or category information about them. Participants preferred to receive category information for out-groups more than for their in-group. In Study 2, 97 5-year-olds (55% girls) and 97 7-year-olds (59% girls) were provided either "No-information," "individual information," or "category information" about group members. Children's attitudes and essentialism were assessed before and after information provision. Category information increased negative attitudes toward Jews, whereas individual information improved positive attitudes and reduced essentialism, suggesting potential for intervention.