Ethnic Identity and African Americans Essay

social personal individualism is the sum total of group member aspects nearly those value, symbols, and common histories that identify them as a distinct group (Smith 1991). phylogeny of paganal identity operator is important because it helps wiz to come to terms with their ethnic membership as a prominent informant group and epochal part of an individuals overall identity. ethnic reference group refers to an individuals psychological relatedness to groups (Smith 1991). These reference groups help adolescents smell out, reflect and see things from the point of their ethnic groups in which they actively participate or seek to participate.What is ethnic identity? The establishment of identity is an important, complex line for all adolescents, and is considered a major maturational task for all adolescents. It is particularly complicated for adolescents belonging to ethnic and nonage groups. ethnical identity of the majority group of individuals is continuously validate d and reinforced in a positive manner where as the minority group is unceasingly ridiculed and punished in a negative manner. What does this say for those adolescents who argon the minority and not the majority?It is important to study or research ethnic identity because it provides better knowledge to help one understand stock for a sense of unity and connectivenesss in which the self provides meaning for cathexis and meaning of ethnic identity (Spencer, 1990). It is also important to study or research the differences between these groups due to beliefs and values. Adolescents that be the minority are confronted with their ethnicity at an earlier age then Caucasian adolescents majority and they are constantly aware of ethnic differences, which means it is of greater importance to understand the development of the minority individual.It should lead to different assessments when it comes to ethnic identity. For example, African American adolescents are psychologically compared t o Caucasian American adolescence diagnoses, which are sometimes inaccurately assessed. Bronfenberner explains the a priori perspective such as the ecological perspective by saying, The implications for clinical treatment of African American adolescents, mental health workers must be sensitive to the ecological background of their clients. Mental Health workers must pick up that there is no single entity called the black family .The black families compared to the opposite families naturalized their American family. He suggests that these families vary dramatically in backgrounds, social stinting status, values, and degree of acculturation to the norms and values of mainstream America (1990). There are also, hearty differences that may exist in preparation of African American adolescent, at the level of rearing family practices and in schools (1990). That is, schools uphold to reflect historical values that deal with racial-stereotypes and prejudice and beliefs.At the same time there are families trying to avoid and make light out of such situations. These families and communities continue to show constancy by instilling their own beliefs and values finished child rearing which maybe different from Caucasian Americas. Identity and ethnicity as adolescent issues Identity has been defined in many ship canal. It is the concept employ to describe an individuals sense of who he or she is (Dashefsky and Shapiro, 1976). Changes in identity occur throughout the life cycle, however, the changes in identity are usually most notable during adolescence.Integrating a positive sense of ethnic identity into ones overall personal identity is an important task of late adolescence (Steinberg, 1996). heathen identity has been defined as the aspect of ones sense of identity concerning ancestry or racial group membership (Steinberg, 1996). Ethnic identity development is an immanent human need because it provides a sense of belonging and historical continuity. Ethnic socia lization Minority children are confronted with their ethnicity at an earlier age than their majority counterparts (Smith, 1991).Parents can help to speed up the early stages of ethnic identity development by taking an active approach to ethnic socialization. Ethnic socialization, according to Steinberg(1996), refers to the process through which parents teach their children about their ethnicity and about the certain(a) experiences they may have with the broader society. Ethnic socialization consists of three themes 1) understanding ones own finishing, 2) getting along in mainstream society, and 3) dealing with racism (Steinberg, 1996). Possible outcomes of ethnic identity development.There are four ways to deal with ethnicity (Steinberg, 1996) Assimilationadopting the cultural norms of the majority while rejecting the norms of ones own culture. Separationrejecting the majority culture and associating only with members of ones own culture. Marginalityliving within majority culture but feeling estranged. Biculturalismmaintaining ties to both cultures. According to Steinberg (1996) many believe that biculturalism is more successful than the other four. With biculturalism minority youth have access to the norms of the majority and minority culture depending on the situation. References.Smith, Elise J. Ethnic Identity ontogeny Toward the Development of A opening within the Context of Majority/Minority Status. Journal of Counseling and Development JCD. v70. n1. Sept. 1991. p. 181-188. Spencer, Margaret Beale. Child Development. v61 n2. Apr. 1990. P. 290-310. Dashefsky, A. (Eds. ). (1976). Ethnic identity in society. Chicago Rand McNally College Publishing Co. Smith, E. J. (1991). Ethnic identity development Toward the development of a theory within the context of majority/minority status. Journal of Counseling and Development, 70, 181-187. Steinberg, L. (1996). Adolescence. New York McGraw-Hill, Inc.