Experimental Evidence of Peer Gender Nonconformity Triggering Dehumanization in Children: Developmental Trajectory, Form, and Link to Bullying

Gender nonconforming (GN) children are at higher risk of experiencing bullying and social exclusion than are gender conforming (GC) children. Nonetheless, very little is known about the socio-cognitive mechanisms underlying children's bias against GN peers. The present study was the first to examine children's dehumanization of GN peers (developmental trajectory, form, and link to bullying). Chinese children in Hong Kong (N = 472; in four age groups: 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, and 11-12 years) were assesse