Old Issues, New Directions, and Ongoing Debates: An Introduction to Ethnic-Racial Identity Across the Lifespan

Lifespan Model and Ethnic-Racial Identity Development: Literature Review

“…The same keywords found in the subsequent 42 years had inclined to 3691 publications. This exponential rate of growth yields a robust literature on ERI-its conceptualization, development, and implications (Cokley, 2007;Cross et al, 2017;Rivas-Drake et al, 2014, as cited in Cunningham andHodge, 2020). Some literature reviews reveal that there are still rooms in this field of study that need more attention from scholars.…”

“…Jean Phinney and his works including the Multi-Ethnic Identity Model had set the tone of ERI as a developmental process. According to Cunningham and Hodge (2020), scholars has shown interest in the study of the relation of psychology and ERI processes among ethnic-racial minority youth and their families (Cokley & Vandiver, 2012;Cross, 1991;Quintana et al, 2006;Sellers et al, 1998;Spencer & Markstrom-Adams, 1990;Verkuyten, 2016;Umanna-Taylor et al, 2013, as cited in Cunningham andHodge, 2020). Cunningham and Hodge found that from 1934-1976, there were only "47 publications that included the terms "ethnic identity" or "racial identity" in the Abstract" in the PsycINFO database within 42 years.…”

“…Some literature reviews reveal that there are still rooms in this field of study that need more attention from scholars. While the lifespan model of ethnic-racial identity mentioned earlier provides useful perspectives to the development, it also raises questions of across and within-group differences that are difficult to empirically examine within contextual experiences (Cunningham & Hodge, 2020;Perveen et al, 2020). According to Rogers et al (2020, as cited in Cunningham andHodge, 2020), it is crucial "to prioritize research questions that move across the multiple identities of individuals, consider the multiple levels of the ecosystem, and address the dynamic nature of relationships and their role in ERI development".…”

“…A study examining the body dissatisfaction of people from collectivistic and individualistic cultures showed that people from collectivistic cultures seem to have more body dissatisfaction than people from individualistic cultures (Cakici et al, 2021). Marks et al (2020, as cited in Cunningham andHodge, 2020), mentioned that the lifespan model of ethnic-racial identity can apply in promoting well-being and it "may serve as a guide in developing and applying psychosocial tools and interventions to enhance positive ERI".…”