Racial/Cultural Identity Development Model International Step by Step Association

Conformity Stage a)Minority - unequivocal preference for dominant cultural values over their own; share dominant group attitudes and beliefs toward other minorities b)Majority acceptance of majority superiorityacceptance of majority superiority denial and compartmentalizationdenial and compartmentalization

Dissonance Stage a) Minority questioning and challenging of the attitudes/beliefs of the conformity stage questioning and challenging of the attitudes/beliefs of the conformity stage awareness that “isms” do exist awareness that “isms” do exist mixed feelings of shame and pridemixed feelings of shame and pride b) Majority recognize their “isms” and the part they play in oppressing minority groupsrecognize their “isms” and the part they play in oppressing minority groups feelings of guilt, shame, angerfeelings of guilt, shame, anger tendency to retreat into majority culture.tendency to retreat into majority culture.

Resistance and Immersion Stage a)Minority reject the dominant values of society and culturereject the dominant values of society and culture desire to eliminate oppressiondesire to eliminate oppression guilt, shame, and angerguilt, shame, and anger orientation toward self-discovery of own history and culture.orientation toward self-discovery of own history and culture. b) Majority feelings of anger and guiltfeelings of anger and guilt paternalistic protector role or the over identification with minority group.paternalistic protector role or the over identification with minority group.

Introspection Stage a) Minority need for positive self-definitionneed for positive self-definition conflict between responsibility and allegiance to one's own minority group and personal independence and autonomy.conflict between responsibility and allegiance to one's own minority group and personal independence and autonomy. b) Majority both acceptance and rejection of majority identityboth acceptance and rejection of majority identity need for greater individual autonomyneed for greater individual autonomy reduction of the defensiveness and guilt associated with being the part of majority group.reduction of the defensiveness and guilt associated with being the part of majority group.

Integrative Awareness Stage a)Minority inner sense of security; appreciation of unique aspects of own cultureinner sense of security; appreciation of unique aspects of own culture resolved conflicts; greater individual control and flexibilityresolved conflicts; greater individual control and flexibility Understanding that there are acceptable and unacceptable aspects in all culturesUnderstanding that there are acceptable and unacceptable aspects in all cultures strong commitment toward eradication of isms.strong commitment toward eradication of isms. b) Majority sense of self-fulfillment with regard to own identitysense of self-fulfillment with regard to own identity increased knowledge and appreciation for cultural diversity; increased social commitment toward eradication of isms.increased knowledge and appreciation for cultural diversity; increased social commitment toward eradication of isms.