International Journal of Behavioral Development
Volume 31, Issue 5, 2007, Pages 501-513

Emerging ethnic identity and interethnic group social preferences in middle childhood: Findings from the Children of Immigrants Development in Context (CIDC) study (Article)

Marks A.K.* , Szalacha L.A. , Lamarre M. , Boyd M.J. , García Coll C.
  • a Center for the Study of Human Development, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
  • b Center for Research Facilitation, University of Illinoisat Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
  • c Department of Education, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
  • d Department of Psychology, Howard University, Washington, DC, United States
  • e Department of Education, Center for the Study ofHuman Development, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States

Abstract

This study characterizes several aspects of emerging ethnic identity in childhood and its associations with interethnic group social preferences. Understanding these processes is important, as early interethnic group social practices may form a foundation for later interethnic group attitudes and behaviors in adolescence. Children of Cambodian, Dominican, and Portuguese heritage (aged 6-12 years) consistently and accurately identified with labels of their family's nationality of origin across the three study years, and reported strong ethnic pride. In support of existing developmental models of ethnic identity in adolescence, older children demonstrated greater ethnic identity exploration than younger children. Importantly, for second-generation children, a positive sense of ethnic identity was not only associated with ingroup social preferences, but also ethnic outgroup social preferences. Findings are discussed with regard to existing models of ethnic identity development. © 2007 The International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development.

Author Keywords

Peer Social Immigrant Identity child Ethnicity race

Index Keywords

immigrant Cambodia Portugal race difference human ethnic group peer pressure child behavior Dominican Republic interview social status ethnic difference male female inheritance cultural factor peer group Article Social Environment normal human ethnicity social attitude social behavior Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-34548340725&doi=10.1177%2f0165025407081462&partnerID=40&md5=4cc8fc69311f949a05948eb6bba5a2d6
DOI: 10.1177/0165025407081462
ISSN: 01650254
Cited by: 29
Original Language: English