Children in Singapore as young as 3 show racial preference

Pre-school children here can develop racial preferences by the age of three, especially if they belong to the majority race, according to a study published in 2017. The NTU study showed that Chinese children in pre-schools, unlike their Indian peers, showed implicit bias (unconscious attitudes) and explicit bias (overt biased behaviours) favouring their own race. Assoc Prof Setoh Peipei, 42, who led the research, said her team's findings are consistent with the findings around the world. The study was published in 2017 in Child Development, among the world's most prestigious journals in the field of child psychology. Assoc Prof Setoh added that she and her team are now conducting follow-up research into what can be done for interracial integration.

- Similar report in The New Paper, page 4

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Photo: From ST (by PCF Sparkletots @ Sembawang Blk 789)