The Development Of Ethnic Identity And Jean Erikson's Personal Identity

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Ethnic identity begins to develop in an individual when that individual is of early adolescence. There are many models that illustrate this process, some of which are described within this paper. Many theorists have chosen to make this topic their topic of study, including Erik Erikson, James Marcia, and Jean Phinney. Each of these theorists used the models of previous theorists to construct their own models, so although they all share several similarities, they are each different in their own way. The transition between elementary school to middle school can affect the way that adolescents mature mentally and cause them to think more about their identity and where they fit in the world. The development of an individual’s personal identity …show more content…

Racial identity is focused on the social and political impact of group membership. On the other hand, ethnicity is related to race, but extends beyond group membership. Ethnicity also explains why groups of individuals consider themselves to be distinct people, and refers to a shared worldview, language, and behaviors associated with cultural heritage. Ethnic identity is occasionally used to refer to ethnic group membership, and is fundamental to an adolescent’s identity because it includes the feelings and attitudes associated with that …show more content…

Phinney proposed that early adolescents who haven’t been exposed to issues caused by ethnic identity fall into the first stage of her model. This is referred to as a diffused or unexamined ethnic identity, and is characterized by an individual’s lack of exploration of ethnic issues. A lack of concern or disinterest in ethnic issues manifests a diffused level of identity. This led to Phinney’s belief that early adolescents give ethnicity little thought, or may simply not be interested in the topic.This does not define all adolescents, though. Some may have made a commitment without having undergone a period of exploration on the basis of ethnic attitudes that may have been inherited by parents, friends, or other influential adults in an adolescent’s life. The attitudes of these adolescents represent a foreclosed status. Judith Bachay suggested that adolescents in these two statuses are at risk of internalizing or accepting faulty and negative beliefs and

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