Television and prejudice reduction: When does television as a vicarious experience make a difference?

Televised role portrayals and interracial interactions, as sources of vicar ious experience, contribute to the development of stereotypes, prejudice, a nd discrimination among children. The first section of this article reviews the amount and nature of racial/ethnic content on television, including li mited portrayals of racial/ethnic groups and of interracial/ethnic interact ion. The second section focuses on theoretical models that help explain tel evision's role in the development, maintenance, and modification of stereot ypes, prejudice, and discrimination. The third section addresses research o n the effects of television in altering stereotypes, prejudice, and discrim ination, with particular attention given to media intervention programs spe cifically designed to address these issues (Sesame Street and Different and the Same). This article concludes with a discussion of suggestions for fut ure research.