The Role of Generic Language in the Early Development of Social Categorization

Marjorie Rhodes; Sarah Jane Leslie; Lydia Bianchi; Lisa Chalik

doi:10.1111/cdev.12714

The Role of Generic Language in the Early Development of Social Categorization

Marjorie Rhodes, Sarah Jane Leslie, Lydia Bianchi, Lisa Chalik

Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Classifying people into categories not only helps humans simplify a complex social world but also contributes to stereotyping and discrimination. This research examines how social categorization develops by testing how language imbues with meaning otherwise arbitrary differences between people. Experimental studies (N = 129) with 2-year-olds showed that generic language—language that refers to abstract kinds—guides the development of social categorization. Toddlers learned a new category after hearing generic language about individuals who shared an arbitrary perceptual feature but not after hearing matched specific language, simple labels, or plural (but nongeneric) language about the same set of individuals. These findings show how subtle linguistic cues shape the development of social categorization.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	148-155
Number of pages	8
Journal	Child development
Volume	89
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.12714
State	Published - Jan 1 2018

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
Education
Developmental and Educational Psychology

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10.1111/cdev.12714

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abstract = "Classifying people into categories not only helps humans simplify a complex social world but also contributes to stereotyping and discrimination. This research examines how social categorization develops by testing how language imbues with meaning otherwise arbitrary differences between people. Experimental studies (N = 129) with 2-year-olds showed that generic language—language that refers to abstract kinds—guides the development of social categorization. Toddlers learned a new category after hearing generic language about individuals who shared an arbitrary perceptual feature but not after hearing matched specific language, simple labels, or plural (but nongeneric) language about the same set of individuals. These findings show how subtle linguistic cues shape the development of social categorization.",

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The Role of Generic Language in the Early Development of Social Categorization

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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