APPLYING THE LIFESPAN MODEL OF ETHNIC-RACIAL IDENTITY: EXPLORING AFFECT, BEHAVIOR, AND COGNITION TO PROMOTE WELL-BEING

Abstract

This paper presents an application of the Lifespan Model of Ethnic-Racial Identity (ERI) Development (see Williams, et al., in press). Using a tripartite approach, we present the affective, behavioral, and cognitive aspects of ERI in a framework that can be adapted for group and individual psychosocial interventions across the lifespan. These A-B-C anchors are presented in developmental contexts as well as the larger social contexts of systemic oppression and current and historical sociopolitical climates. It is ultimately the aspiration of this identity work that individuals will engage in ERI meaning-making, drawing from the implicit and explicit aspects of their A-B-Cs, to support a healthy and positive sense of themselves and others as members of ethnic-racial social groups.

Acknowledgements

Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. We use the term “minority” in this paper to indicate a social group or its member that has been historically marginalized or oppressed, and therefore has relatively less social, political, or economic power than the “majority” group or individual. Minority therefore does not mean the group is small in number, but rather that it does not share equal social, political, or economic power with the majority.

Additional information

Funding

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1729711.