Identity shifting to a higher-status group risks poorer well-being and distrust for mixed individuals

Evidence

However, the feasibility of using the individual mobility strategy is questionable: Prior research has documented that identity malleability can be related to negative outcomes in Mixed individuals, such as poorer psychological well-being (Sanchez et al. 2009; Shih and Sanchez 2005; Shih et al. 2010). In addition, Mixed individuals reported lower levels of self-esteem in situations where they were pressured to choose one racial–ethnic identity and neglect or disidentify from the other (Sanchez 2010; Townsend et al. 2009). Furthermore, Mixed individuals who temporarily shift to the mono-racial/mono-ethnic identity that is beneficial to them in the current situation risk being perceived negatively and as untrustworthy by others (e.g., Albuja et al. 2018). Thus, although individual mobility seems like a theoretically viable strategy for Mixed individuals to gain self-esteem, empirical research suggests that it instead could involve the risk of social repercussions and could contribute to poorer psychological well-being. — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or Neither, 74

However, the feasibility of using the individual mobility strategy is questionable: Prior research has documented that identity malleability can be related to negative outcomes in Mixed individuals, such as poorer psychological well-being (Sanchez et al. 2009; Shih and Sanchez 2005; Shih et al. 2010). In addition, Mixed individuals reported lower levels of self-esteem in situations where they were pressured to choose one racial–ethnic identity and neglect or disidentify from the other (Sanchez 2010; Townsend et al. 2009). Furthermore, Mixed individuals who temporarily shift to the mono-racial/mono-ethnic identity that is beneficial to them in the current situation risk being perceived negatively and as untrustworthy by others (e.g., Albuja et al. 2018). Thus, although individual mobility seems like a theoretically viable strategy for Mixed individuals to gain self-esteem, empirical research suggests that it instead could involve the risk of social repercussions and could contribute to poorer psychological well-being. — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or Neither, 80

Categorization

• XREF: Directly feeds the reader’s question about homogenizing pressure falling on identity members who don’t fit a category cleanly — the risk profile of shifting identity under situational pressure overlaps with protective-solidarity coercion of mixed members. — connects to: Mixed individuals face recurring identity questions, denials of belonging, and family pressures to choose — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or…, 86; Identity denial may make mixed-race people shift identification to a different ingroup — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or…, 119; Mixed individuals shift identification within a single social domain. — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or…, 79 (+2 more)
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or…, 74; Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or…, 80

Related

• Mixed individuals shift identification within a single social domain. (similarity 0.87)
• Mixed individuals face recurring identity questions, denials of belonging, and family pressures to choose (similarity 0.87)
• Mixed-identity individuals shift ingroup identification according to which dimension holds higher status (similarity 0.86)
• Mixed individuals often fall back on individual mobility rather than collective status strategies (similarity 0.86)
• Identity denial may make mixed-race people shift identification to a different ingroup (similarity 0.86)
• Constructivist mixed individuals shift identification toward higher-status groups for personal gain. (similarity 0.86)
• Identity denial decreases belonging, then increases effort to regain inclusion in the excluding group. (similarity 0.84)
• Mixed individuals endorse less essentialist racial beliefs than monoracial peers. (similarity 0.84)
• Mixed individuals categorically shift toward whichever mono-racial prototype is absent (similarity 0.84)
• Mixed-identity individuals shift between racial identities to meet context-specific needs. (similarity 0.83)
• Different identity motives drive Mixed individuals toward different target groups. (similarity 0.83)
• Mixed-identity people shift self-categorizations situationally because prototype-similarity assessments stay inconclusive (similarity 0.83)
• Mixed-identity members may exit a rejecting group rather than fight for inclusion (similarity 0.83)
• Mixed individuals shift self-categorization across situations because similarity tests prove inconclusive. (similarity 0.82)
• Dual-identity members cannot elevate one ingroup’s status at the other’s expense. (similarity 0.82)

Broader Connections

• Mixed individuals shift identification within a single social domain. #qualifies (0.80) — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or Neither, 79
• Identity denial may make mixed-race people shift identification to a different ingroup #expands (0.75) — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or Neither, 119
• Group identity is malleable and its salience can shift. #expands (0.72)