Ethnic Identity Development Measures: Racial Identity Attitude Scale

Developmental Sequences of Racial Identity

The RIAS-B consists of four subscales, labeled conformity, dissonance, immersion/emersion, and internalization. The subscales measure a progression within African American identity development of movement from internalization of negative racial messages to deepening adoption of a positive racial identity. Racial identity is a dynamic maturational process through which African Americans understand themselves within the context of a race-based society.

During conformity (previously labeled pre-encounter), African Americans internalize negative racial stereotypes, perceiving elements of their racial background as a stigma out of socialization experience, a Eurocentric cultural orientation, or a victim–blame attitude within a context of individualistic values. Dissonance (previously labeled encounter) is an awareness that this previous identity is no longer viable. This awareness is typically initiated through a critical event, such as exposure to cultural/racial information or an experience with racism. The event provides impetus to seek an alternative racial identity. In the twin components of immersion and emersion, immersion refers to participation in an African American world of art, media, and people, and rejection of the White, or dominant culture, world. Emersion connotes a reduction in the intensity of this experience, enhanced feelings of control, and a movement toward internalization. Internalization describes a state of belongingness and a resolution of racial identity conflicts; a positive racial identity serves as a point of departure for transactions outside an African American world.

RIAS-B Subscale Psychometric Evidence

The RIAS-B is available in a long form and a more widely used short form. The 30-item short form has four subscales of 8-, 6-, 10-, and 6-item length. Several studies have established acceptable internal consistency coefficient alpha reliabilities for three of the four RIAS-B subscales. Reliability findings for the encounter subscale have been mixed, with some studies finding unacceptable levels. RIAS-B subscale intercorrelations are generally consistent with the Cross model. Support for the construct validity of three RIAS-B scales has emerged in the research literature; evidence for the validity of the encounter subscale is weaker.

Recent Research with the RIAS-B

A growing body of literature using the RIAS-B supports the theoretical assertion that greater internalization of a positive racial identity is related to better adjustment. A series of recent studies using the RIAS-B found positive racial identity is associated with enhanced adaptive functioning, increased ego identity, higher self-esteem, and reduced symptomatic distress. One recent study [Page 189]found immersion-emersion scores predicted increased MMPI psychopathology scores, suggesting a risk for counselors and clinicians to pathologize facets of normative racial identity development.

Recently, racial identity theory has been used with other groups that have also experienced historical and ongoing discrimination. The Visible Racial/Ethnic Identity Attitude Scale (VIAS) is an adaptation of the RIAS-B for Hispanic/Latino individuals. The VIAS has been used successfully to replicate a number of the RIAS-B findings with this group.

The RIAS-B is the primary instrument in the current literature for measuring racial identity in African Americans. A major contribution of the RIAS-B research has highlighted the influence of collective identity processes such as racial identity, in contrast to individual identity processes. Most significantly, the RIAS-B research has focused psychology's attention on the experience of racism's impact on self-concept, as well as the important role of positive racial identity in mental health and positive psychological adjustment.

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