Ethnic-Racial Identity Flashcards
What is ethnic identity
- dynamic, multidimensional construct that refers to one’s identity or sense of self as a member of an ethnic group
- not fixed
- constructed over time
- particularly salient in adolescence
Racial vs. ethnic identity
- Racial identity incorporates experiences of discrimination, racism, and racial socialization of a stratified society
- Ethnic identity has to do with one’s cultural group
Considering aspects of identity relating to race and ethnicity are not easily distinguished, researchers often look at ethnic-racial identity (combining them together)
2 aspects of ERI
Commitment + Exploration
The 4 identity statuses (Phinney model)
Identity diffusion
Foreclosure - commit without expl.
Moratorium - expl. not yet commit.
Identity achievement
Sellers’ Multidimensional Model of Racial Identity (MMRI): assumptions
- Identities are influences by situation as well as stable
- Individuals have different identities and these are hierarchically ordered
- Indivduals’ perception of own identity most valid
Sellers’ Multidimensional Model of Racial Identity (MMRI): dimensions
- Salience (how much you think about your racial ethnic identity in a situation or time)
- Centrality (race central to self-concept?)
- Regard (feelings of positivity and negativity of race)
- Ideology (beliefs, attitudes, opinions on how on feels the members of the race should act)
Janet Helms Model of White Racial Identity
6 generals schemas of identity that white individuals might demonstrate.
the 6 schemas are divided into 2 phases: internalization of racist status quo, challenge to racist status quo
3 schemas of phase 1
contact: acceptance of socially imposed racial categorization & rules. innocence, ignorance, neutrality. minimizes impact.
disintegration: confusion about commitment to own group. movement between feelings of comfort & discomfort. guilt & shame. clashing with perspectives you had in the past.
reintegration: doubling down. acknowledging. but ignore it and focusing back on my group. these people just have to work harder. dismiss information you receive. understand inequalities but feel like it makes sense bc my group is better.
3 schemas of phase 2
Pseudo-Independence: white liberalists. pushing to help. white savior. but don’t think fixing the system is the way to do that. tolerance of others.
Immersion/Emersion: active exploration. personal level. and societal level. systems analysis. reflecting. thinking critically on structural racism. they seek ways on how
“I know that bc I’m white I benefit from a racist system that stems from the slavery era, we need to consider our roles in a hurtful system, then we need to find a way to change it”
Autonomy: ongoing personal reflection and actively involved. part of what you are. social justice work is central to your identity
A lifespan model of ethnic-racial identity:
5 dimensions move throughout time
+
-historical context
-ethnic-racial priming in infancy (other race effect - familiarity with what group you are in)
-starting with early childhood
ERI in Early Childhood
they have a lot of behaviours that go with race and culture but don’t really understand the meaning of it or the elink with group membership.
-knowledge if faily low tho.
ERI in middle childhood
-often high proud in cultural group
ERI in adolescence
-rrly important time for identity development.
-awareness of discrimination might be going up
ERI in adulthood
-lot of transitions (university, job, kids, marriage) : drivers of ethnic-racial identity development
ERI in transition to college: results of study
exploration: slight but still significant increase. doing more to learn about ethnic racial group
resolution (commitment): stayed the same.
public regard: increase during transition into university, but then increase slow down. people don’t really like my group as much as I though
Impacts of positive ethnic-racial affect
- academic adjustment : better achievement
-negative adjustment: positive ER affect linked with less depressive symptoms, externalizing problems
- positive adjustment: more positive social behaviours, better self-esteem, better well-being
What was the one outcome that positive ethnic-racial affect was NOT related to
Anxiety. Just cause you have positive ethnic-racial affect does not mean you are less anxious.
Which aspects of identity exacerbates or protects against the impact of discrimination on outcomes
protective aspect: commitment. “i feel a high sense of belonging for this group”
exacerbating aspect: exploration. facing discrimination during that time can put us in a little bit more stress than normal
the exacerbating impact of ERI exploration was strongest when youth were __ yo
24 years old.
potential explanations:
- brain development
- role transition
- support networks changing
Which comes first, discrimination or ERI development: rejection-identification hypothesis
recognition of discrimination leads to greater ERI over time.
discrimination serves as catalyst to learn more about identity
why??? because discrimination increases the salience that you are an outgroup member, which pushes you to find your people
Which comes first, discrimination or ERI development: Identification attribution hypothesis
ERI exploration and belonging lead to greater perceptions of discrimination over time
Gonzales findings, testing bidirectional relationships between discrimination , ERI exploration, ERI belonging
-discrimination was not predicting increase or decreases in later exploration or belonging
-but baseline level of exploration and belonging predicted increases in discrimination one year later
evidence for rejection-identification
Does the source of discrimination matter for this chicken-egg debate?
