Multiracials' affective, behavioral and identity-specific responses to identity denial

Abstract

Multiracial individuals commonly experience instances of identity denial, in which their racial identities are questioned, invalidated and/or rejected by others. The present research examined majority-minority Multiracials' forecasted and actual responses to identity denial experiences, specifically investigating whether the race of the denied identity (White vs racial minority) and race of the identity denial perpetrator (White vs racial minority) differentially impact the experience of identity denial. In Study 1, participants (N = 247) who imagined having their racial minority (vs White) identity denied forecasted stronger negative affective responses and likelihood of identity reassertion, irrespective of the racial identity of the denial perpetrator. Study 2 found participants (N = 85) whose racial minority identity was experimentally denied reported stronger active negative affect (e.g., anger) and were more likely to reassert their identity. Additionally, Study 2 examined three racial identity-specific processes – self-presentation, self-perception and self-identification – impacted by identity denial experiences. Multiracials whose racial minority identity was denied by a White perpetrator perceived their own racial identity, presented their racial identity to others and shifted their racial self-identification in alignment with their racially minoritized identity. The opposite pattern occurred among Multiracial individuals whose racial minority identity was denied by a racial minority perpetrator. The findings imply the specific components of an identity denial experience (race of denied identity and race of denial perpetrator) are important for predicting how Multiracials experience and respond to instances of identity denial.