Like father, like son: Stereotypical Black facial features in children causing trouble

Abstract

AbstractThis present study was designed to investigate whether face‐type (stereotypical or nonstereotypical) facilitates stereotype‐consistent categorization and decision‐making. Previous literature suggests an associative link between adults' stereotypically Black facial features and assumed criminality. The question addressed here is whether the cognitive processes that underpin biased decisions for an adult's racially stereotypical facial features (e.g., broad nose, full lips) apply to children's faces. In two studies, testing face‐type categorization and disciplinary judgments, people were more likely to miscategorize children with stereotypical faces into negative roles more than positive roles. People were also more likely to increase their disciplinary judgments from one infraction to another for children with stereotypical faces compared to nonstereotypical faces. These results suggest that face‐type cues do extend to children and also engender negative associations.