Correlazione illusoria e stereotipo etnico in età evolutiva

Recent studies have shown that the illusory correlation bias is present in children starting as early as age six. In the original experimental paradigm used with adults and subsequently adapted for children, the distinction between a majority and a minority group rests uniquely upon the numerical size of the two groups, so that the majority group is assigned the larger number of behaviors. In the present study we use, in addition to the numerical distinction of the two groups, a second distinction based on the ethnicity of the members of the groups. In this case the child observer may or may not be a member of the ethnic group presented. The results show that the illusory correlation bias disappears when the children observers (Italian children) are presented with situations in which members of their own ethnic group are the numerical minority. This is achieved by presenting a majority group that has somatic traits commonly associated with African children and a minority group with somatic traits of European children. These results emphasize how membership in a group can interfere with the formation of the illusory correlation bias intended solely as a cognitive error.