Narratives of Bicultural Individuals: A Narrative Approach to the Development of Bicultural Identity Integration

Abstract

Our study used a narrative approach to the identity development of bicultural individuals. More specifically, we were interested in how bicultural individuals, who vary in the extent to which they feel bicultural conflict and distance, components of bicultural identity integration, tell their narratives of past biculturally significant experiences. Results showed that biculturally-distanced individuals were less likely to have narratives with exploration, growth, and redemption sequences. Biculturally-conflicted individuals were more likely to have present conflict in their memories and to end their narratives negatively. Furthermore, bicultural individuals who had past conflict and high exploration in their narratives were more likely to have an integrated bicultural identity. On the other hand, those who had past conflict and low exploration were more likely to have a distanced bicultural identity.