3. Race/Racial Groups – socially constructed concepts that divide the population
into subgroups based on real or perceived differences in physical appearance or place
of ancestral origin.
Ethnicity/Ethnic Groups – socially constructed subcategories of racial groups
that emphasize shared geographical, historical, and cultural experiences of different
people.
Racial/Ethnic Ancestry – race and ethnicity claimed by a person’s ancestors.
Ascribed Racial Group Membership – racial group(s) that are applied to an
individual by others based on factors such as physical appearance, racial ancestry, and
the social construction of race at a given point in time.
Monoracial/Multiracial – either a person’s racial ancestry, person’s chosen racial
identity, a racial group membership ascribed to a person, or a person’s chosen racial
group membership.
DEFINITIONS OF TERMS
4. Self-identification not defined by the
young person’s ethnic background.
Person is pushed to choose a racial
identity. People are influenced to
choose a monoracial identity.
Factors that influence a person’s
decision as to how to identify:
• Support or status
• Physical appearance
• Cultural knowledge
• Political involvement
• Personality Difference
1. Personal Identity
2. Choice of Group
Categorization
POSTON MODEL OF BIRACIAL
IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT
5. Guilt and confusion for choosing
identities that did not fully match
their ancestry.
Self-hatred. Lack of acceptance from
one or more group.
Resolution of these feelings would
lead to…
Greater valuation of all their
identities.
3. Enmeshment/Denial 4. Appreciation
POSTON MODEL OF BIRACIAL
IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT
6. Biracial people appreciate all their
racial ancestries.
Wholeness and integration.
5. Integration
POSTON MODEL OF BIRACIAL
IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT
7. Stage One
Awareness of Differentness & Dissonance
Between ages 3-10
Not feeling like they belong.
Comparisons with others resulted in devaluing of self.
KICH MODEL OF BIRACIAL AND
BICULTURAL IDENTITY
8. Stage Two
Struggle for Acceptance
Pursuit of acceptance by others in the face of experiencing differentness.
“Passing” – taking on behaviors of a racial group – typically of higher status.
Devaluing biracial selves.
Self-exploration, understanding, and identity resolution.
KICH MODEL OF BIRACIAL AND
BICULTURAL IDENTITY
9. KICH MODEL OF BIRACIAL AND
BICULTURAL IDENTITY
Stage Three
Self-Acceptance and Assertion of an Interracial Identity
Increasing acceptance of self-determined Biracial and Bicultural identity.
10.
11. Wijeyesinghe, C., & Jackson, B. W. (2001). New perspectives on
racial identity development: a theoretical and practical
anthology. New York: New York University Press.
REFERENCES
