BOCYF Completed Project

The Origins of Racism and Discrimination and the Role of Stereotypes

The NRC/IOM Board on Children, Youth, and Families and the NRC Board on Behavioral, Cognitive, and Sensory Sciences conducted a workshop on the origins of racism and discrimination, with a particular focus on how stereotypes serve to underlie these attitudes and behaviors. Presentations and discussions were focused on the nature and development of stereotypes, factors that affect the maintenance of stereotyped beliefs, strategies that work effectively to change stereotyped beliefs, and ways of bridging policy, research, and practice. Research reviewed during the workshop were focused, in particular, on stereotype development, maintenance and change among children and adolescents. Such a workshop is intended to help better understand the role that stereotyped beliefs play in the perpetuation of racism and discrimination within the United States, while outlining strategies to promote positive intergroup relations among youth.

This workshop took place on April 11, 2002 at the NAS Building in Washington, DC.