Construction and validation of the Intragroup Marginalization Inventory.

Abstract

This study reports the development and validation of the Intragroup Marginalization Inventory (IMI). The IMI consists of three scales that assess the extent to which an individual perceives interpersonal distancing from family, friends, and ethnic group community members. Intragroup marginalization is defined as the interpersonal distancing that occurs when an acculturating individual is believed to exhibit behaviors, values, and beliefs that are outside the heritage culture's group norms. Intragroup marginalization is based on social identity theory that asserts that groups maintain their identity by the distinctive behaviors of its members. When an acculturating individual displays behaviors or attitudes that differ from the heritage culture group's norms, the group may respond to the threat with social alienation of the transgressor. The results support the IMI's validity via a) content validity in the development of the items, b) construct validity in the selection of the factors based upon an exploratory factor analysis, c) the replicability of the factors based upon a confirmatory factor analysis, and d) discriminant validity through examining the relationship of the factors with other established measures.

Influence of Family Perceptions of Acting White on Acculturative Stress in African American College Students

“…A study on the IMIFamily's construct validity with Latino, Asian American, and African American students found that it is moderately correlated with established measures of social negative exchange with family members (Castillo et al 2007). Internal reliability estimates for this study's sample for Homeostatic Pressure, Linguistic Expectations, Accusation of Assimilation, and Discrepant Values were .75, .88, .86, and .61, respectively.…”

“…Ethnic groups have their own distinct cultural identity and as a group member's behavior begins to move away from the maintenance of that cultural identity and begins to approximate that of the dominant culture, the acculturating member may perceive that other group members are imposing social sanctions against them, thus marginalizing them from the group. When a member of said group is observed displaying behaviors or attitudes outside of the group norm, other members may perceive this behavior as a threat to the group's distinct identity (Castillo et al 2007). Interpersonal distancing ranges from questioning of loyalty to the ethnic group to social ostracism.…”

“…Intragroup marginalization theory provides an explanation for why accusations of acting White occur (Castillo et al 2007). Intragroup marginalization is defined as the perceived distancing by members of the heritage culture when an individual displays cultural characteristics of the dominant group.…”

“…Perceived intragroup marginalization was measured using the Intragroup Marginalization Inventory Family Scale (IMI-Family; Castillo et al 2007). The IMI-Family evaluates the extent to which an acculturating individual experiences interpersonal distancing by family.…”

Sudanese Refugees in Australia: The Impact of Acculturation Stress

“…The influence of family dynamics and the strategies each partner utilises can lead to conflict (Morrison & James, 2009). Conflict may occur when a low acculturated partner expects the other partner, who has already adapted to the dominant host culture, to continue to follow premigration values and traditions (Castillo, Conoley, Brossart, & Quiros, 2007). A husband or wife who is less acculturated may perceive the behaviour of the more highly acculturated partner as a threat, thereby increasing their own level of acculturative stress, which in turn leads to conflict (Lee & Liu, 2001).…”