Yes, please! The Greatest Magic of Harry Potter: Reducing Prejudice

[nia_kantorka]

Today I've stumbled over a little article in a consumer publication which you can get for free in all pharmacies here. The article's title was something like this 'Less Prejudice due to Harry' and it mentioned a scientific publication from the Journal of Applied Social Psychology.

Summary of the findings (Vezzali et al. 2014. DOI: 10.1111/jasp.12279):
Three different studies (with 5th graders, high school students and undergraduates) showed that reading Harry Potter can help to reduce prejudies against so called 'out-groups' like immigrants, homosexuals, and refugees. Each age group read the books (or parts of them) and was asked about one of the discreminated groups by questionnaire(s):
- 5th graders about immigrants (in Italy)
- high school students about homosexuals (in Italy)
- and undergraduate students about refugees (in United Kingdom).
They took a lot of other date to delimitate bias and other influences (for example how much tv the participants had watched or how many books they'd read per year).
The more the participants could relate to Harry (and the less to Voldemort) the more their attitude towards out-groups improved.

It's an open access article so if you want to have a look, here it is: The Greatest Magic of Harry Potter: Reducing Prejudice

Though the publication is written (like all scientific publications) in true gobbledygook, it's made me happy. It's no surprise to find open-minded people in fandom, but that the books can measurably lessen discrimination, yeah, that's good news.

Comments

[my_thestral]

You know, I've already read something similar before and I think it's fabulous that one single book can do what most scholarly books fail at spectacularly. I guess it just sits with the kids and as they identify with the characters, they develop more empathy for them and the world around them. If my son behaves like an idiot towards his brother, I sometimes call him Dudley Dursley and ta-tam! - instant improvement! :)
Also, I was an au pair in England a year or so before the first HP book was out: no one was reading, no fucking one kid, they all watched those damn TV lemonades. And then I visited five years later when the book was already a hit - and kids had books during a tube ride, reading on the train, I couldn't believe my eyes - and not only HP books, all kinds of books. I can't say if it was only the HP books, but I'm convinced they at least contributed to the trend. What an achievement, huh? :)
*pssst - hugs, I hope you're doing well!*

[nia_kantorka]

Oh yes, it would be way better for children to read HP during school than some of the books I had to read. But it'll be not very likely for our little girl. You know, all the German classics are waiting. You could also say doom is looming. ;p
Maybe they'll give it a try during English lessons. I would love to see that. :D
I'm sure it was great to see from your first to your second visit. Yay, for reading kids. I'll do everything that our little one will be one of them. She loves to be read something which is a good start. :D

[my_thestral]

You know, I remember that when HP was all the hype, there was an article about a teacher, who decided to read a chapter of HP in the class at the end of the school day if the kids behaved that day at school. I think he had the best behaved-kids, like, ever. :)

[capitu]

Lovely article. There are all sorts of magic in Harry Potter. :)

[nia_kantorka]

You name it, hon! :D *hugs*