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A Race-Based Size Bias for Black Adolescent Boys: Size, Innocence, and Threat.

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Bibliographic Details
Title: A Race-Based Size Bias for Black Adolescent Boys: Size, Innocence, and Threat.
Authors: Freiburger, Erin1 (AUTHOR) efreibur@iu.edu, Sim, Mattea1 (AUTHOR), Halberstadt, Amy G.2 (AUTHOR), Hugenberg, Kurt1 (AUTHOR)
Source: Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin. Oct2024, Vol. 50 Issue 10, p1438-1450. 13p.
Subject Terms: *Black children, *Black youth, Teenage boys, Stereotype threat, Race
Abstract: We adopted an intersectional stereotyping lens to investigate whether race-based size bias —the tendency to judge Black men as larger than White men—extends to adolescents. Participants judged Black boys as taller than White boys, despite no real size differences (Studies 1A and 1B), and even when boys were matched in age (Study 1B). The size bias persisted when participants viewed computer-generated faces that varied only in apparent race (Study 2A) and extended to perceptions of physical strength, with Black boys judged as stronger than White boys (Study 2B). The size bias was associated with threat-related perceptions, including beliefs that Black boys were less innocent than White boys (Study 3). Finally, the size bias was moderated by a valid threat signal (i.e., anger expressions, Studies 4A and 4B). Thus, adult-like threat stereotypes are perpetrated upon Black boys, leading them to be erroneously perceived as more physically formidable than White boys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Education Research Complete
Description
Abstract:We adopted an intersectional stereotyping lens to investigate whether race-based size bias —the tendency to judge Black men as larger than White men—extends to adolescents. Participants judged Black boys as taller than White boys, despite no real size differences (Studies 1A and 1B), and even when boys were matched in age (Study 1B). The size bias persisted when participants viewed computer-generated faces that varied only in apparent race (Study 2A) and extended to perceptions of physical strength, with Black boys judged as stronger than White boys (Study 2B). The size bias was associated with threat-related perceptions, including beliefs that Black boys were less innocent than White boys (Study 3). Finally, the size bias was moderated by a valid threat signal (i.e., anger expressions, Studies 4A and 4B). Thus, adult-like threat stereotypes are perpetrated upon Black boys, leading them to be erroneously perceived as more physically formidable than White boys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:01461672
DOI:10.1177/01461672231167978