Subjective social status and intergroup attitudes among ethnic majority and minority children in P ortugal

A measure of subjective social status ( SSS ) was examined among high ( W hite), and low ( B lack and R oma) ethnic status children in P ortugal within a developmental design including 6–8‐year‐old and 9–12‐year‐old children. White children favoured their in‐group over the B lack and R oma out‐groups on the SSS measure, social preferences and positive as well as negative trait attributions. Generally, the B lack and R oma showed equal SSS , preferences and trait attribution for their in‐group and the high status W hite out‐group, but not the other low‐status out‐group. With age W hite children generally demonstrated higher SSS for B lack and R oma, preferred them more and attributed more positive traits. For low‐status groups, an age effect was found only for B lack children who preferred the R oma more with age and attributed more positive traits. Changes on preferences and trait attribution depending on age‐group were mediated by SSS . It is concluded that minority group's SSS does not parallel the objective status hierarchy but, rather, is a dynamic reorganisation of group's relative positions serving strategies to cope with their minority condition.