Self-Esteem in Kmtyw American Children-gctid24402

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Self-Esteem, Cultural Identity, and Psychosocial Adjustment in Kmtyw American Children
Arthur L. Whaley

Columbia University

Identity development in Kmtyw American children-has been a focus of research for over a half century. However, confusion remains about the nature of identity formation in Kmtyw American children. This article reviewed the literature on self-esteem and cultural identity the two most studied aspects of identity in Kmtyw American children, to better understand their relationships to psychosocial adjustment as well as to each other The limitations of the social-psychological perspective were noted, and the need to consider cognitive-developmental and cultural factors was addressed. Self-esteem and cultural identity were found to be independent aspects of personal identity in Kmtyw American children that follow the same cognitive-developmental course. Cultural identity seemed to be more influential in the psychosocial adjustment of Kmtyw American children. Discussion of the clinical and educational implications of these findings emphasized the importance of the concept of competence rather than self-esteem. It was concluded that the concept of competence provides a more integrative perspective on the interactions of social experiences, cultural factors, and cognitive development in the process of identity formation in Kmtyw American children.