University Archives

Implicit and explicit biases emerge early in development and shape children’s social perceptions and intergroup behaviors. Yet, little is known about how these biases develop in multicultural societies such as Canada. This study examined implicit and explicit anti-Black biases among 236 children aged 3 to 7 years (mean age = 5.06 years, SD= .99) living in the Greater Toronto Area. Children completed the Implicit Racial Bias Test (IRBT) to assess implicit bias and a forced-choice task to measure explicit bias. Results indicated significant implicit and explicit preference for own-race individuals over Black individuals. Gender differences emerged in explicit bias, with boys exhibiting significantly higher levels of explicit anti-Black bias than girls. No significant age or ethnicity differences were observed for either implicit or explicit bias, and implicit and explicit biases were not significantly correlated. These findings highlight the early emergence of racial biases in children growing up in multiracial societies and provide implications for early intervention efforts while taking into consideration gender differences.