No More Identities, Only Transformations' Postmodern Identity Encounters Ethnicity in the American Context

Date of Award

2008

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Barton, Michelle

Keywords

Identity, Ethnicity, Postmodern

Area of Concentration

Psychology

Abstract

Identity is a complex, fluid and dynamic construct that is important for healthy development, yet, the relationship it has with ethnicity in America has not been fully explored. Ethnicity has been found to be an important variable for minority populations. The connection between identity and ethnicity needs to be explored with acknowledgement of the importance of exploring identity in detail. This means exploring postmodernism, which places pressure on a stable identity, and exploring issues unique to multi-ethnic individuals who are a growing part of our population. This exploration will help to elucidate the state of identity formation today. The present study consisted of 246 mono-ethnic, multi-ethnic, situationally-ethnic and low-ethnic participants who were measured for overall identity formation (OMEIS), ethnicity (MEIM), well-being, and several measures of postmodernism. Distinct differences were found between groups on ethnic scores and statuses. No correlation was found between ethnicity and overall identity formation and neither identity validation nor identity multiplicity changed the connection. Groups did not vary on the postmodern measures. Well-being varied only when participants were examined with their own self-label. Implications for identity are discussed.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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