Mixed-identity people shift self-categorizations situationally because prototype-similarity assessments stay inconclusive
Evidence
Consistent with SCT, we assume that Mixed individualsā selfcategorizations result from assessments of similarity with one or multiple racialāethnic categories on different comparative dimensions (e.g., appearance, behaviour and stereotypes, experiences). Self-categorization, thus, depends on which comparative dimension is salient and to what extent Mixed individuals rate themselves as similar to the category prototype on that dimension. However, because assessments of similarity with a category prototype are often inconclusive for Mixed individuals, their self-categorization may be temporarily and situationally less stable than in participants with mono-racial identities. We propose that to resolve this state of inconclusiveness, Mixed individuals may initially self-categorize into multiple racialā ethnic self-categories and shift among these categories across situations. Characteristics of the situation, such as the available frame of reference, may be of importance to determine which racialāethnic self-category will be primary in a situation. Finally, for Mixed individuals, their mixed group memberships may be characterized by chronically high salience. ā Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or Neither, 60
Brewer (2012) further pointed out that aspects of the situation may influence which need, affiliation or differentiation, is more salient. For instance, being new to a group may increase the need for affiliation and may lead the Asian/Black Mixed individual in our example to increase identification with the salient group (i.e., as Asian). However, when an individual feels over-included in one group (e.g., the Asian group) and their uniqueness (e.g., their Black heritage) is dismissed, the need for differentiation may increase (increasing identification with the Black or the Mixed group). ā Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or Neither, 91
Categorization
- XREF: Directly speaks to the reading purpose: homogenizing in-group pressures from protective solidarity should land unusually hard on those whose category fit is chronically unstable and situationally primary-shifting. ā connects to: Identity salience is dynamic and context-responsive while identification is stable ā Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt: Internationalā¦, 863; Identity alignment requires perceived sufficiency of similarity rather than actual sameness ā Mary Bucholtz and Kira Hall, Identity and Interaction: Aā¦, 75; Mixed identities involve ambiguously crossing mutually exclusive categories within a single social domain ā Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both orā¦, 15 (+13 more)
- ADDENDUM: Parallels the dynamic in āOn Sacrifice: The Real Kind, with Corpsesā where category membership confers belonging at a cost of individual distinctiveness.
- corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim ā Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both orā¦, 60; Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both orā¦, 91
Broader Connections
- Mixed individuals shift self-categorization across situations because similarity tests prove inconclusive.
#expands(0.97) ā Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or Neither, 65 - Mixed individualsā self-similarity judgements draw on experiences and feelings, not just appearance.
#expands(0.85) - Mixed individuals shift identification within a single social domain.
#exemplifies(0.82) ā Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or Neither, 79 - Mixed-identity individuals shift ingroup identification according to which dimension holds higher status
#qualifies(0.74) ā Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or Neither, 73