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Bicultural Identity Integration

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Abstract

Given the growing numbers of bicultural individuals in the United States and around the world, bicultural identity integration (BII) is an important construct that helps researchers to better capture the diversity within this group. In this chapter, we organize and summarize the limited literature on individual differences in bicultural identity, with a special focus on BII. First, we discuss and define biculturalism and cultural identity in general. Second, we introduce individual differences in bicultural identity and the ways in which these differences have been studied. Third, we define BII, summarize research on this construct, and introduce the latest applications of BII theory to other areas of identity research. In unpacking the construct of BII, we first define it along with its components (harmony and blendedness) and nomological network. We also discuss what we believe to be the process involved in integrating one’s dual cultural identities. We then present correlates of BII, including self-group personality perceptions, culturally related behaviors and values, and sociocultural and psychological adjustment. Finally, we discuss how BII relates to other important social-cognitive constructs, such as cultural frame switching or code switching. We end with a brief overview of the latest applications of BII theory (e.g., to gay identity) and suggestions for future research on bicultural identity. In summary, our goal for this chapter is to introduce BII and to help readers understand the importance of culture in identity.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA

    Que-Lam Huynh

  2. Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA

    Angela-MinhTu D. Nguyen

  3. ICREA & universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain

    Verónica Benet-Martínez

Authors
  1. Que-Lam Huynh
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  2. Angela-MinhTu D. Nguyen
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  3. Verónica Benet-Martínez
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Que-Lam Huynh .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology and Public He, University of Miami, N.W. 10th Avenue, Suite 321 1425, Miami, 33136, Florida, USA

    Seth J. Schwartz

  2. , Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Leuven, Tiensestraat 102, Leuven, 3000, Belgium

    Koen Luyckx

  3. School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9QH, United Kingdom

    Vivian L. Vignoles

Appendices

Appendix

Examples of the Bicultural Identity Integration Scale–Version 2

Items are rated on a 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree) scale; an asterisk indicates a reverse-scored item to measure the positive pole of the BII component.

Blendedness versus compartmentalization:

I feel __________ and American at the same time.

I do not blend my __________ and American cultures.*

Harmony versus conflict:

I find it easy to harmonize __________ and American cultures.

I feel that my __________ and American cultures are incompatible.*

For the full BIIS-2 scale, please see Huynh (2009), or contact Que-Lam Huynh at qhuynh@projects.sdsu.edu.

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Huynh, QL., Nguyen, AM.D., Benet-Martínez, V. (2011). Bicultural Identity Integration. In: Schwartz, S., Luyckx, K., Vignoles, V. (eds) Handbook of Identity Theory and Research. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-7988-9_35

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