Role of perspective-taking abilities and ethnic socialization in development of adolescent ethnic identity

In this article, we report on an investigation of a recently proposed const ruct of ethnic perspective-taking ability (EPTA). It was hypothesized that: (a) EPTA would be related to ethnic identity, social perspective-taking ab ility (SMA), and ethnic socialization; and (b) there would be distinctivene ss in EMA relative to SPTA. Mexican American high school students (N = 43) were administered in-depth EPTA and SPTA interviews and questionnaire measu res of ethnic identity. Parents of the adolescents were administered an eth nic socialization questionnaire. Results provided support for the potential usefulness of EPTA because it was significantly associated with SPTA, even after variance associated with developmental level was controlled, and the re was variance in ethnic identity predicted by EPTA that was not also pred icted by either SPTA or the ethnic socialization variable. Contrary to expe ctation, EMA was not significantly associated with ethnic socialization. Ho wever, parental ethnic socialization was significantly predictive of ethnic identity development. The results support a model of ethnic identity devel opment during adolescence integrated across socialization and cognitive-dev elopmental factors.