Identity shifting represents a common but complex social, behavioral, and cognitive phenomenon. However, some forms of identity shifting originate in response to structural, institutional, and interpersonal marginalization enacted on lower status groups, such as people of color in the United States. The current study investigated ways young adults from diverse ethnic/racial groups discussed shifting to fit in with White Americans (a dominant group) in the United States and their own ethnic/racial group (a minoritized group) and elucidated self-reported motivations for shifting. Participants consisted of 764 young adults (ages = 18–23) recruited from two large public universities in the Southeast and Southwest regions of the United States. The majority of participants identified as Black/African American (41%), Asian/Asian American (27%), or Hispanic/Latinx (22%). Analysis of participants’ qualitative responses identified six types of shifts and two motivations for shifting. The shifts included: behavioral, linguistic, cognitive, physical, food, and affect. Motivations for shifting focused on avoiding risks and obtaining rewards. The discussion offers interpretation of the results and recommendations for future research on identity shifting.

身份转变是一种常见但复杂的社会、行为和认知现象。然而，某些形式的身份转变源于对较低地位群体（例如美国的有色人种）的结构、制度和人际边缘化的反应。当前的研究调查了来自不同民族/种族群体的年轻人讨论转变以适应美国白人（占主导地位的群体）和他们自己的民族/种族群体（少数群体）的方式，并阐明了自我报告的转变动机。参与者包括从美国东南部和西南地区两所大型公立大学招募的 764 名年轻人（年龄 = 18-23 岁）。大多数参与者被认为是黑人/非裔美国人 (41%)、亚裔/亚裔美国人 (27%) 或西班牙裔/拉丁裔 (22%)。对参与者定性反应的分析确定了六种类型的转变和两种转变的动机。这些转变包括：行为、语言、认知、身体、食物和情感。转变的动机集中在避免风险和获得回报。讨论提供了对结果的解释以及对未来身份转变研究的建议。