Racial identification is defined as "pride in one's racial and cultural identity", and has been considered a key factor in any individual's development. Few of the many proposed models of racial identity development have been able to adequately address the unique issues of the biracial individual. In response to the lack of a model of biracial identity development, Poston (1990) presented The Biracial Development Model. This model suggests that biracial individuals develop through five stages: personal identity, choice of group categorization, enmeshment/denial, appreciation, and integration.
Stage one, personal identity, is characterized by one's identity being relatively inconsistent and dependent on self-esteem developed within the family. This is a critical developmental period for a child. Family members are instrumental in helping a biracial child feel a sense of belonging and acceptance. The second stage, choice of group characterization, may be a time of crisis for a child. During this stage, the child feels compelled to select an ethnic identity, and thus must choose between parents. The third stage, enmeshment/denial, is characterized by confusion and guilt as a result of choosing an identity that may not be all-inclusive of one's biracial heritage. This stage is characteristic of adolescence during which group belonging becomes a central theme for all youth. The enmeshment/denial stage is even more difficult for biracial youth because they are struggling with dual-race membership. The fourth stage, appreciation, is a period during which the individual still identifies with one ethnic group but begins to broaden his or her understanding of multiple heritages. This is a time of exploration, resulting from the desire to know one's complete racial heritage. The final stage, integration, is characterized by the individual's ability to recognize and appreciate all of the ethnicities he or she possesses. At this point, the biracial individual feels complete and sees......
