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Ethnic Identity Achievement, Identity Verification, Group-Specific Self-Worth, and Intergroup Attitudes Among Latinos

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Advancing Identity Theory, Measurement, and Research

Part of the book series: Frontiers in Sociology and Social Research ((FSSR,volume 10))

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Abstract

Using a sample of Latino college students, I examine how ethnic identity achievement (i.e., a stable and secure understanding of one’s ethnic group derived from an exploration of the meanings of one’s ethnic identity), ethnic identity verification, and group-specific self-worth conjointly influence four group attitudes: ingroup attitudes and three outgroup attitudes (attitudes towards Whites, Asians, and African Americans). The results indicate that an achieved ethnic identity is associated with lower levels of negative attitudes toward one’s ingroup and the three outgroups. Specifically, ethnic identity achievement was directly associated with lower negative ingroup and outgroup attitudes. In addition, ethnic identity achievement and identity verification both enhanced group-specific self-worth, which was associated with lower negative ingroup and outgroup attitudes. This study extends the literature on intergroup attitudes by highlighting the importance of how ethnic identity is conceptualized and measured, as well as the roles played by identity verification and group-specific self-worth.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    This definition of commitment differs somewhat from how the concept is traditionally used within identity theory, where it entails the qualitative and quantitative network ties one has in an identity.

  2. 2.

    Theoretically, these indicators are being included in the analyses for the same reason—they are socioeconomic resources that help people obtain identity verification. So, they were combined into a single measure to help ensure theoretical and statistical precision.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA

    Matthew Grindal

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  1. Matthew Grindal
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Correspondence to Matthew Grindal .

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  1. Social Psychology Research Laboratory, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA

    Jan E. Stets

  2. Department of Sociology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA

    Ashley V. Reichelmann

  3. Department of Sociology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA

    K Jill Kiecolt

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Grindal, M. (2023). Ethnic Identity Achievement, Identity Verification, Group-Specific Self-Worth, and Intergroup Attitudes Among Latinos. In: Stets, J.E., Reichelmann, A.V., Kiecolt, K.J. (eds) Advancing Identity Theory, Measurement, and Research. Frontiers in Sociology and Social Research, vol 10. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-32986-9_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-32986-9_14

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