The actualization balance of ethnic identity
For the purpose of this summation, we will begin with the assumption that people have a multiplicity of identities rather than a single one (Horenczyk & Nisan, 1996). Personally, I am inclined to believe that people do have multiple identities. When I infer to multiple identities, I’m not talking about cognitive dissociation disorders. There is no “Dr. Jekyl” in me that surfaces and runs rampant. Multiple identities refers to the many different facets, or “masks” we have that help us respond to different normative conditions. I have my son mask that I wear when I am around my parents and my grandparents. I have my fiancée mask and my lover mask and my best friend mask that I alternate between when I’m with Tamara. I have my hardcore asshole mask that I wear only when necessary. Those are aspects of my personality which are tied to aspects of my identity. The main identities I have: Deaf, Jewish, Caucasian, et cetera, all combine to create the consciousness “Jon”.
Each of the identities I possess necessitates actualization (Horenczyk & Nisan, 1996). I can actualize my Jewish identity and I can actualize my Deaf identity. Actualization, of course, is my esteem regarding a particular identity, or how I feel about myself possessing that particular identity. That I have many different identities that require actualization poses a problem for some social psychologists (Horenczyk & Nisan, 1996). I need to choose which identity is an actualization priority. In order to actualize an identity, I may actually have to nonactualize another identity (Horenczyk & Nisan, 1996). Some social psychologists have proposed a hierarchy model of identities. Some identities have more worth than others and those identities are the ones which are actualized at the expense of lesser identities. For example, I may value my Deaf identity more than my Jewish identity and therefore neglect my Jewish identity in favor of my Deaf identity. Horenczyk & Nisan (1996) feel that the hierarchy model is invalid because it quashes lesser identities. They favor a balance theory in which all identities are weighed equally and actualization is accrued in positive or negative increments.
People therefore are considered according to whether they have a positive or a negative actualization balance. A negative actualization balance means that a person may have actualized little of his or her identity, or too much of one at the expense of another. Horenczyk & Nisan (1996) found that individuals with a negative actualization balance tend to have lower self-esteems and allow deviant behavior to take place at their expense. For the most part, those with negative actualization balances have detoured from the positive balance that they should allow themselves to have. There is a point where individuals have to establish an actualization point – the point where they feel comfortable with their identity (Horenczyk & Nisan, 1996). .The identity that people tend to fret about, at least in America, is their ethnic identity. People understand their ethnic identity through membership in the ethnic community and through the emotional benefits they gain from membership in the ethnic community (Horenczyk & Nisan, 1996).
Ladd (2003) has made the argument that we should focus on our Deaf identity to the detriment of other identities. It is necessary, he points out, that the Deaf identity be realized before it is quashed by cultures that are anathema to it (p. 167). While I understand his point of view, I find myself more in favor of the balanced identity theories put forth by Horenczyk and Nisan. It is necessary to not only actualize my Deaf identity, but to ensure that my other identities have a positive balance as well. Were I to neglect my other identities, I would be troubled by my relation to my family as a Jewish person, even though I have a positive relationship with my deaf identity and the Deaf community.
Horenczyk and Nisan (1996) wanted to find out whether or not those who have actualized their particular ethnic identity would be more forgiving of those who do not contribute to the community (nonactualize) or towards those who choose to nonactualize in order to attend to personal needs. The studies found that those who had actualized were more likely to allow nonactualization behavior and to, themselves, nonactualize. The act of actualization was enough and no further actualization was deemed necessary. Horenczyk and Nisan determined that this was in part because people find an actualization balance – a point that they decide that a particular identity had been actualized enough.
I also find the Horenczyk & Nisan finding that once actualized, people do not feel the need to contribute further to the community. It seems to me that this does not fit in with patterns the Deaf community has shown. Deaf who have actualized their identity appear to be more active in the Deaf community than those who have not realized their Deaf identity. I would like to theorize that the Horenczyk & Nisan findings were based on an individualistic culture rather than a collectivist culture. I am curious as to whether members of collectivist cultures continue to actualize their identities in order to encourage group cohesion and actualization. That would certainly explain aspects of the Deaf community which differ from the hearing community.
References
Horenczyk, G. & Nisan, M. (1996). The actualization balance of ethnic identity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 70(4). 836-843. Retrieved September 15, 2006 from psycARTICLES database.
Ladd, P. (2003). Understanding deaf culture: in search of deafhood. Tonawanda, NY. Multilingual Matters Ltd.
For the purpose of this summation, we will begin with the assumption that people have a multiplicity of identities rather than a single one (Horenczyk & Nisan, 1996). Personally, I am inclined to believe that people do have multiple identities. When I infer to multiple identities, I’m not talking about cognitive dissociation disorders. There is no “Dr. Jekyl” in me that surfaces and runs rampant. Multiple identities refers to the many different facets, or “masks” we have that help us respond to different normative conditions. I have my son mask that I wear when I am around my parents and my grandparents. I have my fiancée mask and my lover mask and my best friend mask that I alternate between when I’m with Tamara. I have my hardcore asshole mask that I wear only when necessary. Those are aspects of my personality which are tied to aspects of my identity. The main identities I have: Deaf, Jewish, Caucasian, et cetera, all combine to create the consciousness “Jon”.
Each of the identities I possess necessitates actualization (Horenczyk & Nisan, 1996). I can actualize my Jewish identity and I can actualize my Deaf identity. Actualization, of course, is my esteem regarding a particular identity, or how I feel about myself possessing that particular identity. That I have many different identities that require actualization poses a problem for some social psychologists (Horenczyk & Nisan, 1996). I need to choose which identity is an actualization priority. In order to actualize an identity, I may actually have to nonactualize another identity (Horenczyk & Nisan, 1996). Some social psychologists have proposed a hierarchy model of identities. Some identities have more worth than others and those identities are the ones which are actualized at the expense of lesser identities. For example, I may value my Deaf identity more than my Jewish identity and therefore neglect my Jewish identity in favor of my Deaf identity. Horenczyk & Nisan (1996) feel that the hierarchy model is invalid because it quashes lesser identities. They favor a balance theory in which all identities are weighed equally and actualization is accrued in positive or negative increments.
People therefore are considered according to whether they have a positive or a negative actualization balance. A negative actualization balance means that a person may have actualized little of his or her identity, or too much of one at the expense of another. Horenczyk & Nisan (1996) found that individuals with a negative actualization balance tend to have lower self-esteems and allow deviant behavior to take place at their expense. For the most part, those with negative actualization balances have detoured from the positive balance that they should allow themselves to have. There is a point where individuals have to establish an actualization point – the point where they feel comfortable with their identity (Horenczyk & Nisan, 1996). .The identity that people tend to fret about, at least in America, is their ethnic identity. People understand their ethnic identity through membership in the ethnic community and through the emotional benefits they gain from membership in the ethnic community (Horenczyk & Nisan, 1996).
Ladd (2003) has made the argument that we should focus on our Deaf identity to the detriment of other identities. It is necessary, he points out, that the Deaf identity be realized before it is quashed by cultures that are anathema to it (p. 167). While I understand his point of view, I find myself more in favor of the balanced identity theories put forth by Horenczyk and Nisan. It is necessary to not only actualize my Deaf identity, but to ensure that my other identities have a positive balance as well. Were I to neglect my other identities, I would be troubled by my relation to my family as a Jewish person, even though I have a positive relationship with my deaf identity and the Deaf community.
Horenczyk and Nisan (1996) wanted to find out whether or not those who have actualized their particular ethnic identity would be more forgiving of those who do not contribute to the community (nonactualize) or towards those who choose to nonactualize in order to attend to personal needs. The studies found that those who had actualized were more likely to allow nonactualization behavior and to, themselves, nonactualize. The act of actualization was enough and no further actualization was deemed necessary. Horenczyk and Nisan determined that this was in part because people find an actualization balance – a point that they decide that a particular identity had been actualized enough.
I also find the Horenczyk & Nisan finding that once actualized, people do not feel the need to contribute further to the community. It seems to me that this does not fit in with patterns the Deaf community has shown. Deaf who have actualized their identity appear to be more active in the Deaf community than those who have not realized their Deaf identity. I would like to theorize that the Horenczyk & Nisan findings were based on an individualistic culture rather than a collectivist culture. I am curious as to whether members of collectivist cultures continue to actualize their identities in order to encourage group cohesion and actualization. That would certainly explain aspects of the Deaf community which differ from the hearing community.
References
Horenczyk, G. & Nisan, M. (1996). The actualization balance of ethnic identity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 70(4). 836-843. Retrieved September 15, 2006 from psycARTICLES database.
Ladd, P. (2003). Understanding deaf culture: in search of deafhood. Tonawanda, NY. Multilingual Matters Ltd.
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