Mixed-identity self-categorization strategies exceed what social identity complexity theory predicts.

Evidence

In sum, Mixed individuals might self-categorize into one monoracial/mono-ethnic group, into both or into neither (see Key message 2 in Table 1). … Notably, these strategies bear similarities to the structures described in the social identity complexity (SIC) framework (Roccas and Brewer 2002), with strategy A resembling SIC’s dominance structure and strategy D resembling SIC’s merger and/or compartmentalization structure. However, there is no equivalent of strategy B within the SIC framework, and although strategy C may appear somewhat similar to SIC’s intersection structure, it is not entirely the same. The intersection structure represents a hyphenated identity, situated at the overlap of two identities, whereas strategy C goes beyond this conceptualization, defining the Mixed identity as a distinct identity, separate from the mono-racial/monoethnic categories. — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or Neither, 48

Categorization

• DEFINE: Clarifies the distinction between SIC’s dominance, merger, compartmentalization, and intersection structures versus the four Mixed-identity self-categorization strategies A-D.
• XREF: The four strategies (monoracial, both, neither, distinct-Mixed) map directly onto the reader’s interest in how mixed-identity members handle ingroup essentialism pressures. — connects to: Mixed identities involve ambiguously crossing mutually exclusive categories within a single social domain — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or…, 15; Social identity theories presume unambiguous single-category membership that mixed individuals lack — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or…, 16; Mixed-identity people shift self-categorizations situationally because prototype-similarity assessments stay inconclusive — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or…, 60 (+3 more)

Broader Connections

• Mixed-identity people shift self-categorizations situationally because prototype-similarity assessments stay inconclusive #exemplifies (0.85) — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or Neither, 60
• Social identity complexity is an individual difference tied to personally central categories. #qualifies (0.74) — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 584
• Mixed-identity individuals reduce self-concept uncertainty by identifying with entitative groups #complicates (0.72) — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or Neither, 91
• Identity invalidation by mono-racial others shapes mixed individuals’ self-definition #expands (0.72) — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or Neither, 115