Multiracial Identity Contestation and Race Concept Reflection

This paper explores how Multiracial identity contestation may foster greater social conceptions of race through race concept reflection (i.e., thinking frequently about racial categories). Across two correlational studies, Multiracial participants (total N  = 1,159) completed a cross-sectional survey measuring identity contestation, race concept reflection, social race conceptions, and flexible group categorization. Identity contestation was related to greater race concept reflection, which was associated with greater social race conceptions. Further, social race conceptions were related to higher flexible group categorization. In Study 3, participants ( n  = 252) who recalled identity contestation engaged in greater race concept reflection than those in the control condition, which was associated with endorsing greater social race conceptions. In Study 4, participants ( n  = 235) who reflected on race concepts after recalling identity contestation reported greater social race conceptions than those in the control condition. Identity contestation and race concept reflection may, in part, account for Multiracial people’s social race conceptions. These relationships held while controlling for related concepts such as racism reflection (Studies 1–3), general discrimination experiences (Studies 1–2), and negative affect (Studies 3–4).