Zoey Eddy

This paper explores how Multiracial identity contestation may foster greater social conceptions of race through race concept reflection (i.e., thinking frequently about racial categories). Across two correlational studies, Multiracial participants (total N = 1,159) completed a cross-sectional survey measuring identity contestation, race concept reflection, social race conceptions, and flexible group categorization. Identity contestation was related to greater race concept reflection, which was associated with greater social race conceptions. Further, social race conceptions were related to higher flexible group categorization. In Study 3, participants ( n = 252) who recalled identity contestation engaged in greater race concept reflection than those in the control condition, which was associated with endorsing greater social race conceptions. In Study 4, participants ( n = 235) who reflected on race concepts after recalling identity contestation reported greater social race conceptions than those in the control condition. Identity contestation and race concept reflection may, in part, account for Multiracial people’s social race conceptions. These relationships held while controlling for related concepts such as racism reflection (Studies 1–3), general discrimination experiences (Studies 1–2), and negative affect (Studies 3–4).

Despite the unique experience of interracial families, research on parents of Multiracial children and their racial socialization experiences is scarce. Thus, the current study investigates the socialization practices of parents with Multiracial children. In addition, we examine the links between Multiracial-specific socialization, parent’s own racial background, and their perceptions of their children’s Multiracial social experiences. Using qualitative and quantitative methods, we coded parents’ spontaneous descriptions of Multiracial-specific socialization and measured their quantitative self-reports of engagement in cultural socialization, Multiracial stigma awareness, perceived child’s frequency of identity denial experiences, and perceived child’s sense of racial belonging among peers. Qualitative analysis revealed additional themes of Multiracial-specific socialization (i.e., physical appearance, Multiracial pride, family ancestry, parents of different backgrounds, Multiracial network). Quantitative analyses revealed that parents’ Multiracial stigma awareness and perceptions of their child’s identity denial experiences were related to their engagement in Multiracial-specific socialization. Additionally, Multiracial parents reported greater Multiracial stigma awareness compared to monoracial minority parents. Parents of Multiracial children described additional themes as Multiracial-specific socialization, expanding the current literature. Additionally, greater awareness of Multiracial experiences related to greater engagement in racial socialization. Future work should further explore parents’ experiences of Multiracial-specific socialization.

The increasing accessibility of DNA ancestry information may influence perceptions of others' and one's own racial identity. The current work tested whether the presence of genetic testing information influenced Black participants' perceptions of individuals who claim a mismatched racial identity (i.e., a racial identity that differs from their parents), and whether these perceptions are moderated by the amount of corroborating DNA evidence and racial claim of the target. Black participants (N = 1,041) were randomly assigned to read about an individual claiming a Black or White mismatched racial identity. The target either had a majority amount (71%) of corroborating genetic information, a minimal amount (29%) or made no mention of genetic information. When a majority percentage of corroborating genetic information was provided, participants evaluated Black-identified targets more favorably than White-identified targets. Additionally, Black-identified targets were evaluated most favorably when they had a majority amount of corroborating genetic information. Among Black perceivers, a majority amount of corroborating genetic information increased positive evaluations of a mismatched, Black-identified racial claim. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).