Multicultural Identity Integration (MII) in a Conflicted Context: A Latent Profile Analysis Approach

The research addressed the phenomenon of multiple identities, and the potential for conflict within their parts. This study expanded the BII (Bicultural Identity Integration) model and put forward the Multicultural Identity Integration (MII) construct, which allows for a new examination of identity through the integration of more than two identities. We applied the conceptualization and methodology of MII to the Palestinian-Christian population in Israel. This minority faces two layers of conflict: the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the conflict between the Palestinian-Christian and the Palestinian-Muslim minorities that make up the Palestinian society in Israel.

Using Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) on MII variables, two categories of identity profiles emerged, each of which contains two profiles. The more conflicted profiles were termed "Pro-Arab" (characterized by high levels of integration between Arab and Christian identities; a medium level of integration between the Israeli and the Christian identities, and a high level of conflict between the Israeli and Arab identities) and "Pro-Israeli" (characterized by high levels of integration between Israeli and Christian identities, and high levels of conflict of both Arab-Christian and Israeli-Arab identities). The less conflicted profiles were termed "Peaceful" and "Ambivalent". Subsequently, we examined the extent to which the MII profiles predict, and are predicted by, a number of acculturating variables. The results demonstrated significant effects, which will be addressed and discussed in the presentation.