Psychiatry - November 2008 - (Page 40)

two-phase process. In Phase 1, racism is abandoned. In Phase 2, there is a redefining positive white identity. Helms suggests that positive resolutions result in progression from one stage to the next and “are associated with better cross-racial interactions and a greater degree of personal adjustment.” An appreciation of White racial identity formation is important when working with the biracial child and his or her parents, especially if the child is partly of African-American ancestry but being raised by white parents or where one of the parents is white. Phase 1: Abandoning racism. Phase 1 consists of three stages. Stage 1 is the contact stage. In the contact stage, individuals do not identify with a race and there is “an assumption that ethnicity is relevant only for ethnic minorities.” Tokar and Swanson describe this stage as “characterized by a naiveté about Blacks and racial differences… are unaware of their Whiteness and maintain a complacent, naively curious attitude toward Blackness.”7 Individuals in this stage are unaware of the privileges associated with their race and develop their attitudes of people of color based on media, family, peers, and heresay. If this stage dominates, individuals will avoid discussions about race and deny the reality of racisim. Stage 2 is the disintegration stage, where the previously held view crumbles as the person realizes that racism is prevalent and that we live in a society that discriminates against people based on race. Anxiety, guilt, and depressed mood often accompany this stage because there is internal conflict between this knowledge, internal moral standards about past and present injustices against AfricanAmericans (and other people of color), and whether or not to conform to the European-American racial norm. If an individual conforms, he or she will benefit from racism and if the individual does not conform, he or she may be ostracized by other Whites for breaking the norms of cross-racial interaction. Helms says the individual will try to resolve the negative feelings associated with this stage by selecting 40 Psychiatry 2008 [ N O V E M B E R ] one of three solutions: 1) She or he may attempt to overidentify with African Americans (that is he or she may attempt to put on the behaviors and customs that are believed to be characteristic of the African American culture like one puts on a new coat); 2) she or he may become paternalistic toward particular African Americans as a means of protecting them from further potential abuse; and 3) he or she may “choose to retreat back into the predictability of the white culture.” The retreat is fueled by a need to reduce the discomfort; subsequently some may deny the existence of racism and subconsciously avoid people of color. The chosen option depends on other personality characteristics. According to Helms, the first two solutions will lead to rejection by African Americans and/or European Americans. Eventually the White person who attempts to become African American realizes that it is impossible, while the protector realizes his or her protection is unappreciated. At this point, the White individual begins to feel helpless and look for ways to resolve those feelings, thus entering reintergration stage, or shields the self from contradictory information therefore avoiding the reintergration stage and adopting “white values and beliefs that emphasize racial differences and encourage separation.”8 The third and final stage of Phase 1 is the reintegration stage, which is “characterized by hostility and anger toward Black culture and strong positive bias toward White culture.”7 Helms felt this stage was characterized by the tendency to stereotype African Americans and minimize similarities and to negativly label characteristics of African Americans that are percieved to be different. Conditions associated with African Americans are assumed to be due to a lack of effort. Some choose to distance themselves from possible cross-racial interactions; therefore they remain in this stage unless a significant event or societal pressure forces them to interact with African Americans. Phase 2: Redefining white identity. Phase 2 of the WRID model also consists of three stages: pseudoindependence, immersion/emersion, and autonomy. The pseudo-independent stage is where the White individual begins to question whether African Americans are truly inferior. The individual begins to “operate more from an intellectual understanding of racism rather than from a sense of personal responsibility based on their own racism.”9 The individual begins to acknowledge the role European Americans have in past and current racism. The individual no longer consciously holds on the belief that European Americans are superior, but subconsciously still applies the belief as demonstrated in the individual’s behavior. Cross-racial interaction may occur but is limited to African Americans who appear to be similar to European Americans (i.e., African American professionals). In the immersion/emersion stage, the White individual looks to redefine racial identity to feel more comfortable and confident about himself or herself. This stage examines racism, what it means to be White, and how one may have contributed to racism. During this stage, individuals will research information about their group’s history and culture and may also get involved in activist groups. Finally, there is autonomy. During this stage, the individual’s personal journey has helped identify and internalize a positive and secure White racial identity. The White individual is comfortable recognizing and acknowledging the differences between European Americans and African Americans. Differences are not seen as deficits and similarities are not seen as enhancers.8 The White individual tends to assume nonracist attitudes, develop a diverse cultural identity, and is more open and able to relate to other races. As a result, White individuals may avoid getting involved in activities that perpetuates racism; they may also get involved with activities that confront racism and other forms of oppression. BIRACIAL IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT MODELS There has been controversy about the applicability of monoracial identity

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Psychiatry - November 2008 Editor's Message Editorial Advisory Board Contents PsychRx Letters to the Editor Measuring Adverse Events in Psychiatry Nonsuicidal Self Injury in Adolescents Relative Tolerability of Alzheimer's Disease Treatments Biracial Identity Development and Recommendations in Therapy Depression and Cardiovascular Disease: Just an Urban Legend? Three Risk Management Basics Journal Watch Classified Advertising Information for Authors

Psychiatry - November 2008

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