A social cognitive approach for using racially diverse entertainment media to improve children’s intergroup socialization

Abstract Ethnic-racial socialization plays a crucial role in shaping children’s attitudes and behaviors regarding race and intergroup interactions. However, socialization practices greatly vary across families, potentially leading to prejudice and intergroup anxiety. Utilizing Social Cognitive Theory and Anti-Bias Education as frameworks, I present the Model of Parental Media Strategies for Intergroup Socialization and argue that racially diverse entertainment media offers multiple benefits for families seeking to improve their intergroup ERS practices if utilized with key media strategies. This paper additionally addresses the unique challenges faced by White, interracial, and minoritized families in providing adequate intergroup ERS to their children and offers tailored strategies based on the presented model for each family type to leverage entertainment media effectively.