Regular Ph.D. Fellow, Cohort 2023

Dissertation topic
Bicultural Identity Integration: Ethiopian Jews in Israel and Self-Identified Jews in Ethiopia

Dissertation abstract
This research aims to compare Bicultural Identity Integration (BII) and the resulting psychological outcomes among Ethiopian Jews in Israel and self-identified Jews in Ethiopia. BII expands on a unidimensional integration construct to a multidimensional concept, allowing for a better understanding of the diverse domain-specific cultural knowledge within individuals. The construct measures how biculturals perceive their two cultural identities in terms of cultural harmony versus conflict, and cultural blendedness versus compartmentalization. Individuals with higher levels of BII identify with both their ethnic and mainstream cultures and view them as complementary and part of a combined culture. On the other hand, biculturals with lower levels of BII also identify with both cultures, but are more likely to feel caught between them and prefer to keep them separate. Considering the contextual and individual variations within and between Ethiopian Jews in Israel and self-identified Jews in Ethiopia, it is presumed that these two groups have differently activated behavioral (blended vs. compartmentalized) and affective (harmony vs. conflict) identity styles to negotiate their dual cultural identities. Individuals who perceive conflict and compartmentalization tend to report poorer psychological outcomes compared to those who feel harmony and blendedness. This research will present three studies by drawing comparable samples from Ethiopia and Israel, in order to determine which identity strategy is being activated when interacting with their respective dominant culture.

Academic Supervisors
Klaus Boehnke
Sonja Drobnic
Mandy Boehnke
Michael Weinstock