The Role of Social and Personal Norms of Majority Children in Predicting Attitudes Towards Refugee Peers

Norms have been shown to predict a variety of intergroup outcomes among children. A study with children in Croatia (N = 184) who had no prior contact with refugee peers examined the role of social and personal norms in shaping intergroup outcomes with refugee peers. Regression analyses revealed that perceived teachers' and peers' norms, along with personal norms, predict general evaluation, social acceptance, and contact intentions towards refugee children. Social norms, especially those of teachers, were found to better predict attitudes, while peer norms more strongly influenced behavioural outcomes. These findings are important for educators and policymakers, particularly in the context of Croatia's increasingly diverse classrooms.