Psychological Bulletin 1974, Vol. 81, No. 11, 860-890 ETHNIC IDENTIFICATION AND PREFERENCE: A REVIEW ELAINE S. BRAND 1 Avila College RENE A. RUIZ University of Missouri—Kansas City AMADO M. PADILLA University of California, Santa Barbara A review of literature reveals that until recently studies of ethnic identifica- tion and preference have usually shown preference for majority-group members by both majority- and minority-group subjects. Results have also shown a concomitant disparaging of . minority-group members by subjects. The literature is reviewed by the major methodologies employed in ethnic preference research. These methodologies include the following: attitudes as measured by ranking scales, preferences for photographs or line drawings of individuals from various ethnicities, choices of dolls of varied skin and hair colors, cross-ethnic comparisons on personality assessment devices, analysis of sociometric interactions, observation of inte'rgroup behavior, attitude bias in disguised measures, and measurement of autonomic changes. The review also summarizes nine variables (e.g., examiner's ethnicity and sex, subject's age and skin color) that appear to influence a respondent's identification and pref- erence. It is concluded that (a) multiple measures of ethnic preference should be obtained from respondents, (6) a host of ethnicities besides whites and blacks should be investigated to determine ethnic specific and universal factors associated with ethnic esteem, and (c) description and/or control should be established for those factors that appear to influence strongly the respondent's ethnic identification and preference. Interest in the dynamics of ethnic identifi- cation and preference began in the early twentieth century. The initial studies focused on group traits, historical development, geo- graphical distribution, and political and eco- nomic fortunes that distinguish ethnicities (Park, 1913). In the 1920s, studies of atti- tudes and behaviors were conducted by asking subjects to rank different ethnic groups ac- cording to various criteria (Bogardus, 192Sa, 192Sb, 1925c, 1927, 1928). Park's (1924) concept of social distance stimulated the cre- ation of the Bogardus social distance scale (Bogardus, 192.Sb), which was adapted by Murphy and Likert (1938) to provide a gen- eral measure of ethnic tolerance. Using the social distance scale, the par- ticular ethnic group chosen for study can be juxtaposed against national concerns. For ex- ample, in the early 1930s, several investigators 1 Requests for reprints should be sent to E. Brand, Department of Psychology, Avila College, Kansas City, Missouri 6414S. This review was developed as part of a doctoral dissertation completed at the University of Missouri- Kansas City under major advising of John J. Doerr. focused on white American children's attitudes toward citizens of German or other Eastern European descent (Meltzer, 1939; Peterson & Thurstone, 1932, 1933; Thurstone, 1928). Attitudes of and toward Jewish individuals were studied extensively during the 1940s (Brown, 1942; Campbell, 1947; Fenichel, 1946; Frenkel-Brunswik, 1948; Levinson & Sanford, 1944; Morse, 1947). During World War II, a number of investigators surveyed attitudes toward foreign and United States' citizens of Japanese (McWilliams, 1944; Meenes, 1943; Nettler, 1946; Seago, 1947) and German (Dudycha, 1942; Meenes, 1943; Seago, 1947) ethnic heritage. In the 1940s, research studies on white-black relations mounted (Bayton, 1941; Brophy, 1946; Kramer, 1951; Myrdal, 1944; Saenger, 1953; Samelson, 1945). Within the last 10 years, social and po- litical changes have increased some minority- group members' opportunities for jobs, edu- cation, and political power. Legislative and political changes include the Public, Accom- modations Bill of 1955, the Civil Rights Acts of 1957 and 1964, the Equal Employment 860