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ABSTRACT
A study was conducted with 81 minority students at a small
liberal arts college who were previously studied freshman year.
Students with strong ethnic identities upon entry to college
displayed no change in ethnic measures over time, however
students with weak ethnic identities showed significant increases
over time on virtually all measures of ethnicity. During freshman
year, the significant predictors of ethnicity were involvement in
high school ethnic organizations, family participation in cultural
traditions, and percentage of ethnic high school friends. However
by junior year the significant predictors were attendance at ethnic
events and involvement in ethnic media. From freshman year to
junior year, this study also found a significant relationship between
one’s membership patterns in an ethnic organization and other
ethnic measures. Those students who were members by junior year,
but had not been members freshman year scored highest on all
measures of ethnic identity.
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INTRODUCTION
The analysis of ethnic group membership as an important
social group may be traced to Tajfel (1981)in his remark that social
identity is, “that part of an individual’s self-concept which derives
from his knowledge of his membership of a social group (or groups)
together with the value and emotional significance attached to that
membership” (p. 255). Thus one might consider ethnic identity to
be a particular form of social identity, similar to gender identity or
the identity derived from a career. Rosenthal & Hrynevich (1985, p.
723) concur,
“One of the social categories by which individuals are defined
is the ethnic group of which they are members. Within the
context of a particular ethnic group, the individual synthesizes
an ethnic identity. This identity develops from experiences
unique to different groups, with the values and traditions of
the ethnic culture being integrated into one’s definition of
self.”
Ethnic identity is a complex construct