Ethnic Identity Development

Question 1

Definition of ethnicity

Answer 1

Group of people with a shared group name, common cultural elements, shared sense of ancestry and common geographic origin

Question 2

Definition of race

Answer 2

The divisions of people into groups based on physical characteristics (skin and hair colour) and social meanings attributed to each group

Question 3

Definition of ethnic identity.

Answer 3

Self-identification, sense of belonging and attitudes towards one’s ethnic group

Question 4

Definition of racial identity

Answer 4

The personal significance and meaning of race in regard to self concept

Question 5

Definition of ethnic-racial identity

Answer 5

The multidimensional, psychological construct that reflects the beliefs and attitudes that individuals have about their group memberships, and developments over time

Question 6

How does ethnic identity formation occur in infancy and childhood?

Answer 6

• Intergenerational transfer of ethnicity from parents
• Building on infants’ cognitive ability to categorise

Question 7

How does Erikson describe identity development during adolescence?

Answer 7

Identity vs role confusion (5/8 stage of psychosocial development
Developing a sense of self and personal identity
Questioning appearance, aspirations, relationships, sexuality
Identity moratorium

Question 8

How does Marcia describe identity development during adolescence?

Answer 8

• Expands on Erikson’s identity vs role confusion
• Exploring and committing to various ideologies
• Degree of exploration and commitment depends on options available in environment
• Identity statuses: diffused, foreclosed, moratorium or achieved identity

Question 9

How does Phinney describe ethnic identity development during adolescence?

Answer 9

Three stages:
- Unexamined ethnic identity: not explored, like identity diffusion
- Ethnic identity search: encounter situations that promote exploration, like moratorium
- Ethnic identity achievement: acceptance and clear understanding of one’s ethnicity and its meaning

Question 10

Why is ethnic identity development important in adolescence?

Answer 10

It is associated with positive self-esteem, positive educational outcomes and a resource to counteract discrimination

Question 11

What are other models for social and contextual influences on ethnic identity development?

Answer 11

• Bronfenbrenner’s model
• Socio-cultural context: family, homogeneity/diversity, nativity/migration, historical/contemporary

Question 12

What are some critiques for ethnic identity development?

Answer 12

• Assumes ethnic identity as a general construct. Everyone experiences it the same
• Frameworks focus on single ethnicities, ignoring multiethnic individuals

Question 13

What are the levels of ethnicity identity?

Answer 13

Level 1: very general. E.g. Asian, European
Level 2: more delineation, proportionate to the population demographics. E.g. Southeast Asian, American
Level 3: highest differentiation. E.g. NZ European, Chinese, Samoan

Question 14

What is the biracial identity development model (Poston)?

Answer 14

The model consists of:
- Personal identity
- Choice of group categorisation
- Enmeshment and denial
- Appreciation
- Integration

Question 15

What are Root’s resolutions for resolving otherness?

Answer 15

• Describes how multiethnic people cope with ‘otherness’
• Acceptance: identifying with groups others assume they belong to the most
• Both: identifying as both or all groups
• Single: choosing one group independently of external forces
• New: may move identities, but identifies with other multiethnic people

Question 16

Describe Renn’s ecology models of identity development

Answer 16

Monoracial identity: one heritage as identity
Multiple monoracial identities: personal and contextual factors affect identity at different times and places
Multiracial identity: neither one or the other
Extraracial identity: deconstruction of race, not identifying with any
Situational identity: fluid identity pattern, more salient in some contexts than others

Question 17

Describe the historical influences on ethnic identity development in NZ.

Answer 17

• Early labels of Pacific Islanders, imposed and rejected but strategically adopted
• The initial Pacific communities had difficulty establishing collective identity due to different languages and culture
• Pacific identities have been evolving as subsequent generations had more in common than their parents (shared experiences)
• English language and western culture favoured over their own, impacting their cultural identity development

Question 18

What is the Pacific identity and wellbeing scale?

Answer 18

Consists of:
- Perceived familial wellbeing
- Perceived societal wellbeing
- Group membership evaluation
- Religious centrality and embeddedness
- Pacific connectedness and belonging
- Cultural Efficacy