Eyeglasses and Children's Schemata

Abstract

The role of framed eyeglasses in children's person schemata was examined. American first graders (35 girls, 36 boys), rated by their teachers as low, medium, or high in cognitive development, judged peers photographed with and without glasses for physical attractiveness, school performance, conduct, sociability, and sociometric choice. There was a general same-sex bias in the children's ratings. The stimulus persons tended to be rated lower in attractiveness (especially if they were girls), school performance, and conduct when they were wearing glasses than when they were not wearing glasses. Glasses negatively influenced sociometric choice, but only for the most cognitively developed children. These results indicated that adults' stereotypes about people who wear glasses eventually become part of children's person schemata.