title: Evaluations of and reasoning about normative and deviant ingroup and outgroup members: development of the black sheep effect.
abstract: Research with adults has demonstrated a "black sheep effect" (BSE) whereby, relative to evaluations of normative group members, ingroup deviants are derogated more than outgroup deviants. The developmental subjective group dynamics (DSGD) model holds that the BSE should develop during middle childhood when children apply wider social norms. Three hundred and thirty-eight children who were between 5 and 12 years old judged a normative (socially desirable) and a deviant (socially undesirable) member from an ingroup or an outgroup school. Results confirmed a developmental increase in the BSE, the first time this has been demonstrated. Children's own evaluations of group members were mediated by their expectations about ingroup peers' evaluations. In line with DSGD and social domain theories, with age, children's explanations of peer evaluations for ingroup deviance focused relatively more on loyalty. Practical and theoretical implications for peer inclusion and exclusion are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Centre for the Study of Group Processes, School of Psychology, University of Kent.
authors.forename: Dominic
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Abrams
authors.affiliation: Centre for the Study of Group Processes, School of Psychology, University of Kent.
authors.forename: Sally B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rutland
authors.affiliation: Centre for the Study of Group Processes, School of Psychology, University of Kent.
authors.forename: Lindsey
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.affiliation: Centre for the Study of Group Processes, School of Psychology, University of Kent.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van de Vyver
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D012016:Reference Values; D012649:Self Concept; D012919:Social Behavior; D012933:Social Identification; D012938:Social Perception