The chapters in this volume address the need for a better understanding of the development of intersecting identities over age and context. The chapters provide valuable insights into the development of identities, particularly group identities. They highlight common processes across identities, such as the role of contrast and comparison and the…

Finds weak or inconsistent relationships between self-esteem and the following components: negative stereotypes of one's group; acceptance versus rejection of one's group membership; knowledge about one's group; and commitment to the group. Suggests a strong ethnic identity, when accompanied by a positive mainstream orientation, is related to high…

Ethnic and American identity were studied as predictors of self-esteem for 372 Latino, 232 African American, and 65 White high school students. For all groups, ethnic identity was a significant predictor of self-esteem, although it accounted for a relatively small portion of the variance. (SLD)

Surveyed 46 middle- and working-class Mexican American students and 52 middle-class African American students from ethnically diverse high schools in southern California as to American identity, other-group attitudes, self-concept, anxiety, and demographic characteristics. Found varied types of identification manifested by ethnic minority…

Recommends developing a secure, positive sense of one's racial identity through questioning preexisting attitudes and examining the past and present relationships between one's own and other groups. Describes several models of positive ethnic identity development for minority and white students. Discusses the implications of this research for…

This paper presents a model and some empirical research on the process of ethnic identity development beyond childhood. Several models of ethnic identity development among minorities share with Erikson the idea that an achieved identity is the result of an identity crisis, which involves a period of searching that leads to a commitment. In order…

Interprets and contrasts data from two large student surveys investigating attitudes among interracial and monoracial high school and college students. Refutes earlier studies that suggested interracial students suffer from diminished self esteem and psychological well being. Discovers interesting anomalies between ethnic self-labeling and the…