Bicultural identity in psychological perspective

Abstract

The notion of social order is used by many authors as a metaphor for interpretation of bicultural identity. Depending on such basic metaphors the content of scientific problem, the subject and research methodology change. Various representations of bicultural identity, such as 'marginality', 'competence', 'achieved status' or a particular case of ethno-cultural identity are analyzed. Subjective (a metaphor of drama) and instrumental aspects (a metaphor of mechanism) of development and functioning of bicultural identity are separated and compared. The proposed classification of metaphors allows to evaluate and compare the results of different empirical studies of bicultural identity carried out in different socio-cultural contexts.