Racial and ethnic identity theory, measurement, and research in counseling psychology: Present status and future directions.

The present article integrates and expands on the special section contributions of K. O. Cokley (2007); J. E. Helms (2007); J. E. Trimble (2007); S. M. Quintana (2007); and J. S. Phinney and A. D. Ong (2007). The authors of the present article begin with a note on politics and ideology in writings on racial identity development and review general progress the field has made on the topics of racial and ethnic identity development. The present challenges in both explicating clear and concise theories of racial and ethnic identity development and operationalizing and measuring these constructs in paper-and-pencil form are identified. The need for interdisciplinary work on theory testing is highlighted, and select examples of best practices in measuring racial and ethnic identity are presented. The article closes with directions for research in racial and ethnic identity development, and with implications for counseling practice, supervision, and systemic change. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Some better practices for measuring racial and ethnic identity constructs.

Racial and ethnic identity (REI) measures are in danger of becoming conceptually meaningless because of evaluators' insistence that they conform to measurement models intended to assess unidimensional constructs, rather than the multidimensional constructs necessary to capture the complexity of internalized racial or cultural socialization. Some aspects of the intersection of REI theoretical constructs with research design and psychometric practices are discussed, and recommendations for more informed use of each are provided. A table that summarizes some psychometric techniques for analyzing multidimensional measures is provided. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Introduction to the special section on multicultural and community psychology: Clinical psychology in context.

Human behavior occurs in the contexts of culture and community. Yet, clinical psychology has traditionally focused on the individual, neglecting the individual's context. The purpose of this Special Section is to address the underlying conceptual issues in integrating multicultural and community psychology within a common framework. The integration of etic and emic approaches distinguishes the research programs in these articles from others that have solely focused on universal or culture-specific approaches. Issues facing ethnic minority populations are addressed, including identification of risk and protective factors, obstacles to mental health service use, and optimal treatment effectiveness. The integration of culture and community contexts into clinical psychology is necessary for it to remain relevant in an increasingly diverse 21st century. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Racial and ethnic identity: Developmental perspectives and research.

Developmental research is reviewed to evaluate how race, ethnicity, racial identity, and ethnic identity are defined and investigated for minority populations. First reviewed is how these terms are used in developmental and counseling research. Early practices limited these terms to their demographic denotations (e.g., heritage), but more recent practices have expanded to include socially constructed connotations. Second, developmental research was used to evaluate key assumptions in theories of racial and ethnic identity development, with an emphasis on recent longitudinal studies. Research supports some, but not all, of these developmental predictions. Longitudinal research supported the progressive nature of ethnic and racial identity development and that exposure to racism appears to stimulate further identity development during adolescence. In contrast, available evidence does not support the claims of a developmental hierarchy for racial ideologies and that identity crises are normative. Adjustment was not predicted by a single racial or ethnic identity ideology, but research suggested that the adolescent's sociocultural identity and socialization should be tailored to the nature of the racial and ethnic context for development. Implications for counseling research and practice are offered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Critical issues in the measurement of ethnic and racial identity: A referendum on the state of the field.

Ethnic and racial identity are among the most researched topics in the multicultural counseling literature. The popularity of these constructs, combined with ongoing controversies surrounding their measurement, warrants a critical examination by scholars in the field. The author contends that a combination of science and ideology has influenced the field and warns that a rigid and uncritical adherence to old paradigms will stifle growth and the production of useful knowledge. The author provides a review of measurement issues pertaining to ethnic and racial identity research and recommendations for future research and better practices involving ethnic and racial identity instruments. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Color-blind racial attitudes and white racial identity attitudes in psychology trainees.

Is it really important to talk about race in therapy? Does discussion of societal racism have any place in the consulting room? The American Psychological Association's (2003) recent multicultural guidelines highlight the limitations of a racially "color-blind" perspective for clinical practice. This study explored the relationships between color-blind racial attitudes and White racial identity. In a sample of 177 White counseling and clinical psychology trainees, we found that higher levels of attitudes that minimized or distorted the existence of contemporary racism (i.e., color-blind attitudes) were positively related to attitudes associated with less integrated forms of racial identity. Conversely, the results indicated that greater awareness of racism was related to more integrated White racial identity statuses. Implications for assessment, treatment, training, and future research are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Introduction to the special issue on the self and social identity.

This article describes the special issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (JPSP), which is the result of a joint undertaking by the three sections of JPSP. This makes it different from previous special sections or issues of the journal in that rather than relying on the generous services of a guest editor, the same editorial team that handles the regular journal issues has originated this special issue, as well, thus conveying a sense of "business as usual." Our major reason for the present initiative was to highlight the essential unity of personality and social psychology as a field of science. The topic choice for the present special issue was dictated by its relevance and interest to the field of personality and social psychology as a whole, across its various partitions and subdivisions. The articles in the special issue amply reflect the naturalness with which the self and social identity theme transcends the boundaries of JPSP sections. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Clinical and counseling psychology: Some perspectives.

Both fields have similar historical roots and sources of impetus, both apply clinical methods, and both exhibit "a trend toward the relative devaluation of diagnosis." Each is "plagued by the proliferation of subspecialities"; both have been criticized recently for utilizing psychological testing; both suffer from a somewhat anemic and provincial technology. An investigation is described involving 12 major content categories in the attempt "to provide coverage for the total domain of the surface personality… ." Builders of personality tests have shown a common aversion for certain aspects of personality. "The optimal training of the counseling psychologist and of the clinical psychologist… is neither efficient nor optimal training for psychotherapy… ." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The role of racial identity in perceived racial discrimination.

This study examined the role that dimensions of racial identity play regarding the antecedents and consequences of perceived racial discrimination among African Americans. A total of 267 African American college students completed measures of racial identity, perceived racial discrimination, and psychological distress at 2 time points. After controlling for previous perceptions of discrimination, racial centrality was positively associated with subsequent perceived racial discrimination. Additionally, perceived discrimination was positively associated with subsequent event-specific and global psychological distress after accounting for previous perceptions of discrimination and distress. Finally, racial ideology and public regard beliefs moderated the positive relationship between perceived discrimination and subsequent distress. The results illustrate the complex role racial identity plays in the lives of African Americans. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Doctoral training programs in clinical psychology and in counseling psychology.

A list of the APA approved training programs in clinical and counseling psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Community psychology: Accomplishments and challenges: Comment on the special section.

The papers in this special section review contributions of Canadian community psychologists and they also look forward, suggesting ways in which the field might evolve in this country. This discussion paper comments on the papers and puts them in the broader context of psychology and public policy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Doctoral training programs in clinical psychology and in counseling psychology.

"On recommendation of the Committee on Evaluation, the Education and Training Board with the concurrence of the Board of Directors of the American Psychological Association has approved the doctoral training programs in clinical and in psychology that are conducted by the institutions listed… ." Of the 47 institutions indicated in the clinical psychology list, six are asterisked to indicate that the institutions have recently developed programs which meet minimum standards. Of the 25 institutions in the counseling psychology list, seven have been asterisked. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Doctoral training programs in clinical psychology and in counseling psychology.

"On recommendation of the Committee on Evaluation, the Education and Training Board with the concurrence of the Board of Directors of the American Psychological Association has approved the doctoral training programs in clinical psychology and in counseling psychology" conducted by the institutions listed. Under "Doctoral Programs in Clinical Psychology" 57 institutions are listed; 7 of these have interim approval while the others are undifferentiated by any rating. Under "Doctoral Programs in Counseling Psychology" 24 institutions are listed; 1 of these has interim approval. From Psyc Abstracts 36:02:2AM12A. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Influence of interracial dating on racial and/or ethnic identities of Asian American women and white European American men.

In this qualitative study, we used a grounded theory method with in-depth semistructured interviews with nine Asian American women and nine White European American men in an interracial relationship with one another to explore how interracial dating relationships influenced the ways in which these individuals understood their own racial and/or ethnic identities. The study's results indicated that experiences in interracial dating relationships influenced the racial and/or ethnic identities of both Asian American women and White European American men, in relation to ways in which they viewed themselves and ways in which they interacted with others and the world. Shifts in men occurred primarily in relation to acknowledging White privilege and becoming a White ally and included behavioral changes resulting from their new understanding. Shifts in women focused on internal sense of self and others, as both individuals and people of color. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Introduction to the special section: Ecological momentary assessment in health psychology.

Health psychology, like most branches of behavioral science, relies heavily on self-report as a primary source of data. Because data obtained through self-report methods are typically unreliable, researchers have adopted a variety of methods, which have been labeled ecological momentary assessment, or the experience sampling method, for collecting moment-by-moment data in real-world settings. This article provides an introduction to a special section on ecological momentary assessment in health psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

APA-approved doctoral programs in clinical and in counseling psychology: 1964.

"On the recommendation of the Committee on Evaluation, the Education and Training Board has recommended, and the Board of Directors of the American Psychological Association has approved the doctoral programs in clinical psychology and in counseling psychology that are conducted by the institutions listed." 64 institutions are listed under clinical psychology, 23 under counseling psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Race/ethnicity, color-blind racial attitudes, and multicultural counseling competence: The moderating effects of multicultural counseling training.

Increasing trainees' multicultural counseling competence (MCC) has been a hot topic in counseling. Scholars have identified predictors (e.g., race/ethnicity, color-blindness) of MCC, and educators provide multicultural training for trainees. Using a sample of 370 psychology trainees, this study examined whether multicultural training (a) moderated racial/ethnic differences on MCC and (b) changed the relationship between color-blindness and MCC. Results indicated a significant interaction effect of race/ethnicity (i.e., White vs. ethnic minority) and multicultural training on multicultural awareness, but not on multicultural knowledge. Specifically, at lower levels of training, racial/ethnic minority trainees had significantly higher multicultural awareness than their White counterparts; at higher levels of training, no significant difference was found. Described differently, more training significantly enhanced Whites' multicultural awareness, but did not enhance racial/ethnic minority trainees' awareness. Additionally, there was a significant interaction effect of color-blindness and multicultural training on multicultural knowledge, but not on multicultural awareness. The association between color-blindness and multicultural knowledge was stronger at higher levels of multicultural training than at lower levels of training. Alternatively, the effect of training on enhancing knowledge was stronger for those with lower color-blindness than for those with higher color-blindness. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

What's missing from the dialogue on racial microaggressions in counseling and therapy.

Comments on article by Sue et al. (see record 2007-07130-001) on racial microaggression in clinical practice. Sue et al.'s article on racial microaggressions offers valuable information on the insidious, covert nature of racism and its everyday impact on people of color. While I agree with almost every point made in Sue et al.'s article, I wish to comment on two points and to share some of my concerns about their practical implications. The first point has to do with the lack of clarity in distinguishing race from culture, and the second point involves brief phrases in the article that implicitly create a hierarchy of suffering that is problematic in the therapeutic context. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Introduction and comment on the special section: Health psychology and public policy.

Health psychology is highly relevant to public policy. However, in the past, the journal, Health Psychology, has not devoted a significant number of pages to policy issues. This special section of Health Psychology introduces several issues relevant to policy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Education and Training Board. Doctoral training programs in clinical psychology and in counseling psychology.

"On recommendation of the Committee on Evaluation, the Education and Training Board with the concurrence of the Board of Directors of the American Psychological Association has approved the doctoral training programs in clinical psychology and in counseling psychology… " in a number of institutions. 43 institutions are specified in the clinical psychology approved list; 23 in the counseling psychology list. The institutions listed have been reported to the USPHS, to the VA and to the Surgeon General's Department of the U. S. Army. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)