Author: Manuel Ramirez (III.)

Publisher:

Published: 1977

Total Pages: 44

ISBN-13:

The work reported herein is part of an ongoing investigation into the psychodynamics and development of biculturalism among Mexican Americans. The research is based on recent theoretical developments which suggest that a cultural identity need not be exclusive. Instead, a person may develop in such a way as to make possible identification with more than one culture and in the process acquire a wide range of competencies and sensitivites. If so, biculturalism could prove a highly significant asset with regard to development to the levels of intra- and interpersonal sophistication required of persons who staff settings characterized by ethnic diversity, complex team work, and recurrent problems of a human relations nature. The bicultural person may be a superior candidate for a variety of organizational and social roles. Confirmation of this possibility awaits development and validation of a comprehensive instrument for measuring biculturalism and, more specifically, particular personality, life history, and behavioral correlates of biculturalism that predict career and leadership potential in different settings, personal and social adjustment in those settings, and satisfaction in living. Initial efforts at developing an instrument suited to this purpose are summarized in this report. A selection instrument for identifying bicultural persons was developed from intensive interviews of a small sample of bicultural adults. Revisions and refinements, combined with field testing, yielded a three part instrument suited to identifying individual's exposure to, or involvement in, primary institutions (family, religion, politics, education) of Chicano and Anglo cultures.