Download CULTURAL IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT In the blanks below, please

CULTURAL IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT
1. In the blanks below, please write answers to the simple question: “Who are you?” Give
as many answers as you can think of.
2. Write the answers in the order that they occur to you.
I am ___________________________
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Cultural identity is the identity of a group or culture or of an individual as far as one is
influenced by one's belonging to a group or culture.
Model of Personal Identity
The Tripartite Model of Personal Identity consists of three levels, the individual, group, and
universal level. Tripartite Model of Personal Identity – the understanding that our self-perceptions
are made of unique, individual (genetic endowment-non shared experiences) aspects, aspects of
groups (gender-religious preference-culture-ethnicity-geographic location-age) to which we belong,
and universal aspects (common life experiences, self-awareness, ability to use symbols, biological
and physical similarities) of human beings.
“All individuals, in many respects, are (a) like no other individuals, (b) like some individuals, and (c)
like all other individuals.” (Old Asian Saying)
Cultural Identity Development-1
1. Pre-encounter stage of minority identity development – the stage or status in which one
feels and accepts that the world is organized according to the dominant culture and not
one’s own cultural group. E.g. “I believe that large number of _________ are untrustworthy”
OR “I feel very uncomfortable around ________ people”
2. Encounter stage of minority identity development – the stage or status in which one is
confronted with the realities of discrimination/racism or other forms of devaluation of one’s
cultural group. E.g. “I will unable to involve myself with ________” I feel anxious about some
of the things I believe about _________”
3. Immersion/Emersion stage of minority identity development – the stage or status in which
one involves oneself completely within one’s cultural group to the exclusion of the majority
group. One emerges from this stage because one cannot meet all of one’s needs if society is
truly dominated by the majority group. E.g. “I have changed my style of life to fit my beliefs
about _________ people.” OR “ I speak my mind regardless of the consequences”
4. Internalization stage of minority identity development – the stage or status in which one
feels comfortable with one’s identity. This allows one to express acceptance of other
cultures. E.g. “People, regardless of their race, have strengths and limitations”. OR I feel good
about being ________ but do not limit myself to _________ activities”
Racial/Cultural Identity Development-2
It defines five stages of development: conformity, dissonance, resistance and immersion,
introspection, and integrative awareness.
1. Conformity Stage. People at the conformity stage possess the following characteristics:

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self-depreciating attitudes and beliefs,

group-depreciating attitudes and beliefs toward members of the same minority group,

discrimination toward members of different minorities, and

group-appreciating attitudes and beliefs toward members of the dominant group.
2. Dissonance Stage. No matter how much an individual attempts to deny his or her own
racial/cultural heritage, he or she will encounter information or experiences that are inconsistent
with beliefs, attitudes, and values held by the dominant culture.
3. Resistance and Immersion Stage. In the resistance and immersion stage the culturally different
individual tends to completely endorse minority-held views and to reject the dominant values of
society and culture.
4. Introspection Stage. Individuals in this stage begin to discover that the level of intensity of feelings
is psychologically draining and does not permit them to devote crucial energies to understanding
themselves or to their own racial/cultural group.
5. Integrative Awareness Stage. Minority persons in this stage have developed an inner sense of
security and now own and appreciate unique aspects of their culture as well as those of the
mainstream culture
Host Identity Development
1.
Contact – the status in which the hosts are uniformed about the realities of discrimination and
privilege.
2.
Disintegration – the status in which the hosts are in enough contact with ethnic minorities that
their naïveté about privilege and discrimination is shattered.
3.
Reintegration – the status in which the hosts retreat to their comfort zone within their own
communities.
4.
Pseudo-independence – the status in which the hosts begin to acknowledge the realities of
discrimination but believe that it is the foreigners who should change, not the hosts.
5.
Immersion/Emersion – the status in which the hosts begin to form a more positive identity and
to focus on changing themselves, not foreigners.
6.
Autonomy – the status in which the hosts are comfortable with their identity, understand that
racism is connected with other forms of oppression, and work to address al forms of
oppression
Multiracial Identity Development
1.
Personal Identity – the stage or status in which a child bases his/her identity on personal
factors, such as self-esteem, instead of on race or ethnicity.
2.
Choice of Group Categorization – the stage or status in which a child is forced to choose which
race or ethnicity he/she should use as the basis of his/her identity.
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3.
Enmeshment/Denial – the stage or status in which a child feels guilty about choosing one race
or ethnicity over the other, because this is an implicit rejection of the parent whose race or
ethnicity was not chosen.
4.
Appreciation – the stage or status in which a child/adolescent begins to broaden his/her
perspective to include the race or ethnicity not initially selected for his/her identity.
5.
Integration – the stage or status in which a child/adolescent/adult sees the benefits of
embracing both races or ethnicities
A Critique of Prevalent Models

Most of the models suggest linear progression at each stage. It is assumed that all individuals
begin at the first stage and gradually work their way through all the stages in the order
described. However, this is not necessarily the case. These identities are not static categories
but represent a dynamic developmental process. The word “statuses” would be better than
“stages”.

Negative racial/ethnic experiences can cause some regress to a pre-encounter or immersionemersion stage.
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For some immersion in their own groups may be an adaptive response for their particular
situation.
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The relevance of the models for different generations (ages) is in question.
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Lack empirical support.
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Overemphasize reactions to discrimination and oppression.
Multiple Layering of Identities
Who are you?
Identities are not unidimensional. All of us have multidimensional identities. E.g. Man + Indian
+Goan+ Catholic + Student + Straight + Priest + SDB
We face a unique challenge-How to integrate all these identities?
Membership is each of these groups shapes our experiences and worldview. It has a powerful
influence over how society views us, how we view ourselves, and how we view others. At times one
of these dimensions becomes more important, and at other times other dimensions becomes more
important. At times these demotions can conflict. The more secure you are in your identities, the
less these conflicts will interfere with your ability to speak your mind with confidence. Which of
these identities is most salient at a given period of time? The significance of one’s race varies across
individuals and across situations. Since we all have multilayered identities the salience of these
identities can shift.
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Critical Thinking Questions
1. How are you like everyone else? How are you like a group of identifiable people? How are
you unique?
2. How are you like others in your racio-ethnic group? What similarities do you see among
people of other racio-ethnic groups?
3. When interacting with people of different racial and ethnic groups, have you noticed that
some seem to be more connected with their groups than others are? Have you notices that
some seem to reject interactions with you, whereas others seem quite open to interacting
with you?
4. If you are multiracial, with which group or groups do you feel most comfortable? What group
seems to be most accepting of you?
5. What other identities do you have? Do they ever come into conflict with your racio-ethnic
identity? If so, how have you resolved those conflicts?
Tripartite Model of Personal Identity
The first stage of the model is the individual level. This level is the belief that all individuals
are different, and there are no two alike. Although this seems like the ideal stage, this could cause
differing in the way people view their culture. For example, if one person in the community has
explored and accepted this level, while the other person is struggling with it, a rift in beliefs could
occur. A person who is not on the individual level of the model may feel held back because of
prejudices against their culture. Although the person may feel that all people are unique in their own
way, knowledge of stereotypes of his own race may cause him to downplay his own individuality.
The second level of the Tripartite Model of Personal Identity is the group level. The group
level is the acceptance that all individuals have some things in common with one another. Someone
who is trying to explore this stage could be affected by stereotypes and prejudices as well. Not only
would it cause him to feel like he is completely separated from other cultures, based off his race and
differences of his own culture, he would find it extremely difficult to fully connect with a person of
another race. If he could not accept that he has similarities with others, while holding onto his
differences on a cultural level, he could not feel that everyone was connected in some way.
Therefore, his relationship in the community would be hindered because he would feel completely
different from his other confreres.
The third, and final, stage of the Tripartite Model of Personal Identity is the universal level.
This is the belief that all individuals share the same characteristics. This stage could bring hardship to
a community because it would deny the different cultures of each confrere. Believing that every
person is the same would completely diminish the sense of individualism and heterogeneity that
differing cultures bring. Heterogeneity is what brings a sense of diverseness to a population. Another
way that this level could be hindered is from stereotypes and prejudices. Stereotypes could cause a
person of a minority group to want to conform to the majority group. If some members of the
community are of a racial majority, and the others are from a racial minority, the members from the
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racial minority could deny their own culture. This would lead to conformity and ignoring an
important characteristic of their identity.
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