Mixed individuals shift racial self-categorization situationally, but only within boundary conditions.

Evidence

On the basis of SCT and SIT, we have hypothesized that Mixed individuals may self-categorize and identify with multiple groups along the same social domain. We extended this tenet to suggest that Mixed individuals will situationally increase their selfcategorization and social identification with these racial–ethnic categories. This implies a high level of flexibility and situational adaptability of self-categorization and social identification in Mixed individuals. Yet, not every Mixed individual is likely to shift their self-categorization and identification across contexts. — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or Neither, 102

However, these assumptions do not necessarily apply to Mixed individuals. For instance, conflicting selfand other categorizations can be a frequent experience for them, as has been discussed and investigated in previous empirical research (e.g., Campion 2019; Franco and Franco 2016) and will be discussed in later sections of this article. Furthermore, racial–ethnic self-categorization is not necessarily fixed or binary for Mixed individuals: Because they may possess multiple racial–ethnic self-categories, the process of self-categorization can consist of contextually shifting among them (Gaither 2015; Harris and Sim 2002; Pauker et al. 2018). Rather than a simple either–or outcome, Mixed individuals’ identification processes may involve a relatively higher extent of self-categorization into one racial– ethnic category compared to the others (Good et al. 2010). — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or Neither, 35

Categorization

• XREF: Relates to reading purpose: the homogenizing pressure of ingroup solidarity vs. the situational flexibility of mixed-identity self-categorization — tension that sets up how protective solidarity’s pressure may fall on those who don’t fit cleanly. — connects to: Mixed-race individuals use their own observable behavior as similarity evidence when self-categorizing racially. — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or…, 42; Mixed-race individuals often shift self-categorization across contexts and lifespan. — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or…, 47; Even single-group settings keep mixed-race identity chronically salient — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or…, 57 (+10 more)
• QUESTION: What drives which ethnic self-category gets the higher extent when a Mixed person must prioritize — recency of others’ perception, context, or internal weighting?
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or…, 102; Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or…, 35

Broader Connections

• Mixed-identity people shift self-categorizations situationally because prototype-similarity assessments stay inconclusive #expands (0.92) — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or Neither, 60
• Mixed individuals shift self-categorization across situations because similarity tests prove inconclusive. #expands (0.92) — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or Neither, 65
• Perceived similarity to a racial category drives self-categorization among mixed-race people #expands (0.80) — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or Neither, 37
• Mixed individuals shift identification within a single social domain. #qualifies (0.78) — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or Neither, 79
• Mixed identities involve ambiguously crossing mutually exclusive categories within a single social domain #expands (0.76) — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or Neither, 15
• Racial categorization of the same person varies by time, place, and context #corroborates (0.75)
• Essentialist beliefs about race incline mixed individuals toward a single distinct mixed identity #complicates (0.74) — 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 #exemplifies (0.74) — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or Neither, 119
• Mixed individuals categorically shift toward whichever mono-racial prototype is absent #complicates (0.72) — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or Neither, 51