The Role of Multiracial Identity Integration in Developing Leader Adaptability

<p>Today’s global economy and diverse workforce require leaders to navigate complex environments, demanding that they be highly adaptable. However, few studies have examined the cognitive resources needed to support this adaptability. This study examined the relationship between multiracial identity integration (MII) and leader adaptability, exploring the cognitive mechanisms of paradox mindset and attributional complexity. Using a sample of 182 multiracial leaders in the United States, results of a path analysis revealed that MII did not significantly predict leader adaptability, paradox mindset, or attributional complexity when controlling for other factors. Unexpectedly, attributional complexity had a significant but negative relationship with leader adaptability, contrasting with previous studies that positioned attributional complexity as a facilitator of adaptability in multicultural contexts. However, paradox mindset, cognitive flexibility, learning goal orientation, and openness to experience emerged as significant positive predictors of leader adaptability. These previously unexamined relationships enhance leadership scholarship by demonstrating that a paradox mindset, cognitive flexibility, learning goal orientation, and openness to experience significantly contribute to leader adaptability.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Psychology, MA

Level thesis:degree_level

Open Access Master's Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

School of Social Science, Politics, and Evaluation

Year dc:date.available

2025

Author dc:creator

• Watterson, Ashley M

Contributors dc:contributor

• M. Gloria González Morales

• Attributional complexity
• Cognitive flexibility
• Identity integration
• Leader adaptability
• Multiracial identity integration
• Paradox mindset
• Organizational Behavior and Theory

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cgu_etd/1071

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarship.claremont.edu:cgu_etd-2093