Racial Cultural Identity Development Model

Racial/Cultural Identity Development Model

There are five distinct stages found within the racial/cultural identity development model. These stages include conformity, dissonance, resistance and immersion, introspection and integrative awareness. Not all individuals of a racial/cultural minority experience all of these stages -- some stages can last considerably longer than others and it is possible for people to vacillate between stages. However, the initial stage is conformity to the behavior, norms, and values of a dominant culture on the part of an individual who is a racial or cultural minority. The individual identifies with the dominant culture and wants to fit into it and perceives himself as though he were a part of this dominant culture. It is not uncommon for people to experience shame and negative feelings about both themselves and their minority racial/cultural group in this stage.

The next stage is dissonance, which is a crucial stage because it is the point at which an individual begins to disassociate himself or herself from the perception of the dominant group's cultural and racial values. Frequently, the dissonance stage is actuated by an experience involving one person or others within a minority's own minority group, which causes that person to see others of the same group actually experience pride and a positive sense of identity in their group. During this period one questions one's previously held beliefs during the conformity stage.

In the resistance and immersion stage the individual wantonly rejects his previous views in the conformity stage, and immerses himself in the values and culture of his or her minority group (Pruyn, 2011). During this stage one may feel negative feelings about the prejudice one might have put up with during the conformity stage. As such, individuals deeply entrench themselves within their own culture. The introspection stage is distinct from the previous stage in that most of the anger and feelings of negativity are replaced by a desire to actively question and think about what it really means to be a part of their minority group. In doing so, the individual is actually looking to better define his or her identity (Baden, 2002, p. 167) within the context of his or her minority group. The integrative awareness stage is the one in which people are able to come to terms with their identity as a minority in terms of the larger context presented by the dominant culture in society. Conflicts are generally resolved and people in this stage can appreciate (and disparage) aspects of both cultures.

From this overview of the stages of racial and cultural identity development, it is clear that the particular stage of development that an individual is in can substantially affect the counseling process. Individuals in the conformity stage, for instance, may be in a state of denial about any sort of conflicting feelings they harbor about their status as a minority or about the dominant race or culture in society that they are identifying with. Moreover, they might be largely ignorant of any true issues they have, which would make it more essential for the counselor to attempt to probe this person and work harder to procure some sort of insight.