What is the blue eye theory?

The Blue Eye Theory, also known as the Blue-Eyed Model, was a social experiment conducted by American teacher and author Jane Elliott in 1968 following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. The experiment was designed to teach her third-grade students about racial prejudice and discrimination.

In the experiment, Elliott divided her class into two groups based on eye color - blue-eyed children and brown-eyed children. She then told the blue-eyed children that they were superior to the brown-eyed children and gave them special privileges, while she told the brown-eyed children that they were inferior and gave them restrictions.

The results of the experiment were striking, with the blue-eyed children becoming more confident and dominant, while the brown-eyed children became more submissive and struggled academically. The experiment aimed to demonstrate how easily people can be influenced by unjust discrimination and the importance of empathy and understanding.

The Blue Eye Theory continues to be a significant example of the impact of prejudice and discrimination on individuals and society and is often used in diversity and equality training programs to raise awareness and promote social change.