In the Brown-eyed/Blue-eyed experiment, what determined how third graders were treated?

In the Brown-eyed/Blue-eyed experiment conducted by Jane Elliott, the treatment of the third graders was determined by their eye color. This educational exercise aimed to teach students about discrimination and prejudice by dividing them into groups based on a physical characteristic—eye color.

On the first day of the experiment, students with brown eyes were told they were superior to those with blue eyes, receiving privileges and positive reinforcement, while the blue-eyed children faced negative treatment and were subjected to restrictions. The next day, the roles reversed, highlighting how arbitrary distinctions can lead to unfair treatment and social hierarchy. This focus on eye color illustrated how easily children could adopt discriminatory behaviors based on an arbitrary trait, thereby providing a powerful lesson about prejudice and its impacts on self-esteem and social dynamics.

The other options, such as academic performance, personal interests, or group affiliation, did not influence how the students interacted with one another during this specific experiment. The spotlight was solely on the students' eye color, which served as the basis for the experiment's dynamics.