Reducing Youth In-Group Favoritism to Address Social Injustice

Social injustices toward minority groups are pervasive around the world, and further exacerbated by global threats such as COVID-19 climate change. Prosocial tendencies, empathy, moral reasoning, helping behaviors directed only members of one's own social groups, discriminate against outgroups, can perpetuate an unjust status quo. Yet, recent meta-analyses point to effective intervention programs that foster prosocial responses across group lines. Developmental science has identified evidence-based interventions, policies, inclusive tendencies (toward both in-group out-group members) redress inequities, ultimately, lead more just peaceful societies. The developmental informs five policy principles (e.g., science, resilience, culture, collaboration, sustainability) advance United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) inclusion peace.