The analysis of implicit attitudes among children

In the last decades there has been a growing interest in the measurement of implicit attitudes among adults. Research suggests that automatic components can be strong predictors of specific spontaneous behaviors. More recently, implicit attitude measures have also been adapted to investigate developmental aspects and we will review the existing literature and outline recent studies from our lab. In particular, the present chapter will be structured into three different sections. We will initially present the existing measures based on response latencies and memory performance, and discuss their potential and limits. Next, the development of implicit attitudes during childhood will be discussed, proposing that implicit attitudes are indeed formed during the first years of life but they are not necessarily impermeable to further developmental changes. Events with an affective connotation are expected to continuously shape early implicit attitudes. Finally, we will present data indicating that the implicit attitudes of caregivers can have a strong impact on the formation of attitudes among children. Although the major focus will be on racial attitudes, attitudes toward other relevant social issues will be also examined.