IMPLICIT ATTITUDES IN VERY YOUNG CHILDREN: AN ADAPTATION OF THE IAT

We investigated the applicability of the Implicit Association Test (IAT) to children, 100 three to seven year-olds attempting a fully non-verbal adaptation of the IAT involving insect and flower stimuli. Ninety-four achieved 75% accuracy, and these participants attempted a second IAT, incorporating fat and thin female body shapes. Implicit attitude effects in both tests occurred throughout the age range, and were consistent across age and sex. We conclude that this IAT adaptation is effective for very young children, with potential for attitudinal research in preschoolers, and that the "thin idea” is internalised at an early stage of development.