Psychology Front Page

Assistant Professor Michael T. Rizzo is the February speaker in the First Friday Psychology-Beckman Colloquium Series, a monthly event designed to bring together members of the Department of Psychology, Beckman Institute, and beyond for engaging, cross-area conversations.

Racism remains a pervasive crisis in the United States, with the developmental roots of racial bias, prejudice, and discrimination emerging in early childhood. In this talk, Dr. Rizzo draws on a series of longitudinal studies with White children from across the United States to examine the developmental mechanisms underlying the emergence of racial bias. Specifically, Dr. Rizzo will present evidence that children’s exposure to racial inequality—and, critically, their beliefs about why such inequalities exist—play a central role in the emergence of racial prejudice. Together, these findings highlight the importance of early-developing beliefs about social inequalities in shaping racial attitudes.