ABSTRACT Among emerging adults, peers are central to ethnic-racial identity (ERI) exploration, acting as primary interlocuters in discussions about ethnicity and race. Although ERI development is understood as adaptive, particularly for young people of color, ethnicity and race related conversations are often highly charged, and can consist of both positive, self-affirming exchanges, as well as negative experiences of identity denial, disinterest, and discrimination. The valence of such conversations, and their role in ERI development, may relate both to what is being said and how the conversation is structured. The current study examines in vivo, unguided conversations between 36 friend pairs coded for mention of ethnicity and race (N = 64 individuals; 56% women, 75% born in the United States, M age = 20.54, SD = 2.73; ethnic composition: n = 11 ethnic-racial minority (EM)-EM, n = 14 EM-White, n = 9 White-White). Based on a two-step qualitative analysis, we found wide variation in conversation content and structure. Despite no differences in the length of ethnicity and race related discussion, the types of stories told were shaped starkly by ethnic-racial inequality, discrimination, and the largely segregated experiences of White students. We discuss our findings in light of the little investigated link between ERI exploration and maladaptive psychosocial outcomes.

中文翻译：

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行动中的民族-种族认同：朋友关于民族和种族的对话的结构和内容

摘要 在新兴成年人中，同龄人是民族-种族认同 (ERI) 探索的核心，是讨论民族和种族的主要对话者。尽管 ERI 的发展被认为是适应性的，特别是对于有色人种的年轻人来说，与种族和种族相关的对话通常是高度紧张的，并且可以包括积极的、自我肯定的交流，以及身份否认、漠不关心和歧视的消极体验. 此类对话的效价及其在 ERI 开发中的作用可能与所说的内容和对话的结构有关。目前的研究检查了 36 对朋友之间的无引导的体内对话，这些对话被编码为提及种族和种族（N = 64 个人；56% 的女性，75% 出生在美国，M 年龄 = 20.54，SD = 2.73；种族构成：n = 11 种族少数族裔 (EM)-EM，n = 14 EM-白人，n = 9 白人-白人）。基于两步定性分析，我们发现对话内容和结构存在很大差异。尽管种族和种族相关讨论的长度没有差异，但所讲述的故事类型明显受到种族不平等、歧视以及白人学生在很大程度上隔离的经历的影响。我们根据 ERI 探索与适应不良的社会心理结果之间几乎没有调查过的联系来讨论我们的发现。所讲述的故事类型明显受到种族不平等、歧视以及白人学生在很大程度上隔离的经历的影响。我们根据 ERI 探索与适应不良的社会心理结果之间几乎没有调查过的联系来讨论我们的发现。所讲述的故事类型明显受到种族不平等、歧视以及白人学生在很大程度上隔离的经历的影响。我们根据 ERI 探索与适应不良的社会心理结果之间几乎没有调查过的联系来讨论我们的发现。