Being One or the Other, Both or Neither: Self-Categorization Theory, Social Identity Theory and the Issue of Mixed Identities

In this article, we discuss how social identity theory (SIT) and self-categorization theory (SCT) may apply to mechanisms of social identification and self-categorization among individuals with multiple identities within a single social domain. We focus on individuals with mixed racial–ethnic backgrounds, which provide unique flexibility for their racial–ethnic identities. In line with SCT, we suggest that their racial–ethnic self-categorization is guided by perceptions of similarity with multiple racial–ethnic categories and that these are influenced by contextual factors, such as the frame of reference. Drawing on SIT, optimal distinctiveness theory and uncertainty reduction theory, we suggest that situationally significant motives may determine Mixed individuals’ levels of identification with different racial–ethnic groups. By integrating predictions from these theories with empirical evidence on Mixed individuals’ experiences, we provide a first step to building a comprehensive theoretical framework and outlining a future research program for understanding the dynamic social identification processes of these individuals.