National Identity and Ingroup-Outgroup Attitudes in Children: The Role of Socio-Historical Settings A Special Issue of the European Journal of Developmental Psychology

This special issue reports the findings from eight studies which examined children’s national identifications and national attitudes. Data were collected from 725 7- and 11-year-old children living in countries that have or have not experienced violence or war in the recent past. Twelve national groups participated in the studies, including Jewish and Arab children (Israel), Bosniak and Serbian children (Bosnia), Catholic and Protestant children (Northern Ireland), Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot children (Cyprus), Basque and Spanish children (the Basque Country), and Dutch and English children (The Netherlands and England). The studies examined whether differences in the structure and content of national identity and attitudes result not only from processes of knowledge acquisition but also from cohort and context effects. Developmental and gender differences within each national group, and differences between national groups, are explored in terms of the cultural heritage of the particular group to which the children belong and the patterns of historical and contemporary relationships that exist between their own group and the various outgroups towards which their attitudes were assessed. Findings show that the development of national identifications and national attitudes exhibit considerable cross-national variation as a function of the specific socio-historical contexts within which children develop. These studies, considered together, indicate the need for developmental theorising in this area to avoid simplistic conclusions based upon data collected within just one specific location. The adoption of a broader cross-national comparative perspective is required when attempting to address questions concerning how children’s national identifications and attitudes develop within real-world settings.

L. Oppenheimer,M. Barrett, Introduction to the Special Issue. M. Barrett,L. Oppenheimer, Findings, Theories and Methods in the Study of Children's National Identifications and National Attitudes. D. Clay, M. Barrett, National Identifications and Attitudes Towards a 'Traditional Enemy' Nation Among English Children. L. Oppenheimer, E. Midzic, National Identification and Ingroup-Outgroup Evaluations with Bosniak and Serbian Children. E. Gallagher, E. Cairns, National Identity and Ingroup-Outgroup Attitudes: Catholic and Protestant Children in Northern Ireland. B. Mertan, Children's Perception of National Identity and Ingroup-Outgroup Evaluations: Turkish-Cypriot School Children. P. Stavrinides, S. Georgiou, National Identity and Ingroup-Outgroup Evaluations with Greek-Cypriot Children. L. Reizabal, G. Ortiz, National Identity and Ingroup-Outgroup Attitudes with Basque and Basque-Spanish Children Growing Up in The Basque Country. L. Oppenheimer, Comparative Analyses: Are There Discernable Patterns in the Development of and Relationships Among National Identification and Ingroup-Outgroup Evaluations?

Louis Oppenheimer, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands Martyn Barrett, University of Surrey, UK