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Adolescent Ethnic Identity

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Encyclopedia of Cross-Cultural School Psychology

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Adolescence is a tumultuous period of rapid but uneven biological, emotional, physical, and cognitive changes that create confusion and feelings of awkwardness in young people. It is also a time where identity issues become salient and important. Part of the adolescent turmoil is the inner conflict of values, beliefs, and self-concepts that are being clarified and negotiated during a precarious stage of life. Due to the intense self-consciousness of this period, social reactions to the youngster may have an acute effect on self-esteem. Achieving a stable and positive identity and consequent feelings of self-worth are major challenges to adolescent development.

Identity formation does not take place in a vacuum; it is determined by a unique combination of intrapersonal, interpersonal, and environmental factors and their interplay in the world of the adolescent individual. Although reaching a sense of personal identity is no small feat for any youth, the task is even more daunting for...

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Suggested Reading

  • Fuligni, A. J., Witkow, M., & Garcia, C. (2005). Ethnic identity and the academic adjustment of adolescents from Mexican, Chinese, and European backgrounds. Developmental Psychology, 41(5), 799–811.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, R. M. (2005). Resilience against discrimination: Ethnic identity and other-group orientation as protective factors for Korean Americans. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52(1), 36–44.

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  • Shih, M., & Sanchez, D. T. (2005). Perspectives and research on the positive and negative implications of having multiple racial identities. Psychological Bulletin, 131(4), 569–591.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Counseling and Clinical Psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, New York, U.S.A.

    Annie I Lin & Derald Wing Sue

Authors
  1. Annie I Lin
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  2. Derald Wing Sue
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Educational Psychology, The State University of New Jersey, Rutgers, U.S.A.

    Caroline S. Clauss-Ehlers Ph.D. (Associate Professor of Counseling Psychology) (Associate Professor of Counseling Psychology)

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Lin, A.I., Sue, D.W. (2010). Adolescent Ethnic Identity. In: Clauss-Ehlers, C.S. (eds) Encyclopedia of Cross-Cultural School Psychology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-71799-9_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-71799-9_11

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-71798-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-71799-9

  • eBook Packages: Behavioral Science

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