Development of an Ethnic Self-Definition: The Ethnic Self-Concept "Jew" Among Israeli Children

Abstract

The suggestion is made that ethnic self-definition-in this case the selfdefinition "Jew"-develops in a repeated pattern of movement from centrated to decentrated focus, according to an increasing number of units of mental capacity. It is further suggested that this identity develops according to a stagewise progression.

An original scale (JRS) for the mode of definition of the self as "Jew" is introduced, paralleling the Piagean progression from intuitive preoperations through formal operations. In a series of studies of Israeli-born children it is demonstrated that there is a correlation of 0.57 between age and the JRS, and also a correlation of 0.55 with a seven-item Piagean-type scale of cognitive tasks.

Some light is shed on the conflict, "Am I an Israeli or a Jew". Superficial differences in self-definition of religious and secular Jewish children are lessened when they are aided to eliminate logical inconsistencies in their original definitions. Implications for a theory of ethnic self-definition are explored.

Keywords

Ethnic Children Development Israeli Jew Self-concept Self-identity Self-definition

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