An Examination of the Relationship Between Ethnic Identity Development, Cognitive Complexity, Differentiation of Self, and Reports of Racial and Ethnic Microaggressions

<p>Although individuals may not engage in racism consciously due to social undesirability, they may have biases that manifest in more subtle and unconscious ways. Research has found that people of color experiencing different racial and ethnic microaggressions in their everyday lives are subject to pervasive and negative impacts on their mental health, though little is known about the influence of one’s ethnic identity formation, affective processes, and cognitive processes. A multiple regression analysis was conducted to examine the degree to which ethnic identity development, cognitive complexity, and differentiation of self were associated reported experiences of microaggressions. The analysis indicated that ethnic identity development, cognitive complexity, and differentiation of self was significantly related to reported experiences of microaggressions in African origin (F (11,112)= 4.902, R ²= .325, <em>p</em> = .000) and European Origin (F (11,177)= 3.65, R ²= .170, <em>p</em> =.000) participants. The current study suggests African origin participants who reported more experiences of racial and ethnic microaggressions, engaged in less exploration of their ethnic identity, favored cognitive efforts, and were more tolerance of insolubility. European Origin or White participants who reported more racial and ethnic microaggressions, engaged in less exploration of their ethnic identity and reported a stronger ethnic identity.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy - School Psychology

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Human Services

Year dc:date.available

2017

Author dc:creator

• Gatti, DeShae C

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dr. Robbie Steward
• Dr. Nina Ellis-Hervey
• Dr. Luis Aguerrevere

• microaggressions
• ethnic identity development
• cognitive complexity
• differentiation of self
• Cognition and Perception
• Inequality and Stratification
• Multicultural Psychology
• Race and Ethnicity
• Race, Ethnicity and Post-Colonial Studies
• Social Psychology
• Social Psychology and Interaction

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/124

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarworks.sfasu.edu:etds-1133