GROUP CONTACTS AND ETHNICITY IN THE SOCIAL IDENTITIES OF MEXICANOS AND CHICANOS

Factor analyses of social identity labels between two subgroups of the Mexican-descent population supported the prediction that the identiti es of English-dominant persons born in the United States (Chicanos) wo uld be more differentiated than those of Spanish-dominant persons born in Mexico (Mexicanos). The content of their identities also differed. As predicted, because of differences in length of residence, language facility, geographic dispersal, and likelihood of working in ethnical ly diverse settings, Chicanos and Mexicanos had different patterns of intragroup and intergroup contacts. Chicanos had less contact with oth er persons of Mexican descent and more contact with members of other e thnic groups. Predicted relationships between group contacts and socia l identities were better supported for Chicanos than for Mexicanos. Ov erall, the study supports the general framework offered in which macro social conditions set up particular microsocial conditions (group cont acts) that, in turn, influence the formation of social identities.