What was the Clark doll experiment?



In the 1940s, psychologists Kenneth and Mamie ClarkKenneth and Mamie ClarkKenneth Bancroft Clark (July 14, 1914 – May 1, 2005) and Mamie Phipps Clark (April 18, 1917 – August 11, 1983) were American psychologists who as a married team conducted research among children and were active in the Civil Rights Movement.

What is the Clark doll test?

The social psychologists Kenneth and Mamie Phipps Clark sought to challenge the court’s existing opinion that “separate but equal” public schools were constitutional (Plessy v. Ferguson, 1896) by testing whether African-American children were psychologically and emotionally damaged by attending segregated schools.

What were the results of the Clark doll experiment?

The results of the test showed that the majority of black children preferred the white dolls to the black dolls, the children saying the black dolls were “bad” and that the white dolls looked most like them.

Who conducted the doll experiment and how did this experiment?





The doll experiment was conducted by Kenneth and Mamie Clark. Their experiment suggested that, due to segregation, African American children preferred white dolls, attributed more positive characteristics to white dolls, and felt inferior.

Why was the doll study significant during the civil rights movement?

The doll study was one of the first psychological research findings that influenced policy on a grand scale and allowed a place for psychological research as a legitimate science that could inspire and influence public policy and national discourse in the United States.

What was the purpose of the dolls test?

In the 1940s, psychologists Kenneth and Mamie Clark designed and conducted a series of experiments known colloquially as “the doll tests” to study the psychological effects of segregation on African-American children. Drs. Clark used four dolls, identical except for color, to test children’s racial perceptions.

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What is racial segregation based on?



racial segregation, the practice of restricting people to certain circumscribed areas of residence or to separate institutions (e.g., schools, churches) and facilities (parks, playgrounds, restaurants, restrooms) on the basis of race or alleged race.

What was Mamie Clark’s main contribution to psychology?

Mamie Phipps Clark is a noted woman psychologist, best known for her research on race, self-esteem, and child development.