Drawing on psychological and sociological perspectives as well as quantitative and qualitative data, Identity and Interethnic Marriage in the United States considers the ways the self and social identity are linked to the dynamics of interethnic marriage. Bringing together the classic theoretical contributions of George Herbert Mead, Erving Goffman, and Erik Erikson with contemporary research on ethnic identity inspired by Jean Phinney, this book argues that the self and social identity—especially ethnic identity—are reflected in individuals’ complex journey from singlehood to interethnic marriage within the United States.

Mixed matches are more complicated relationships than those between people from similar backgrounds. Often, the very qualities that attracted us to our partners ultimately lie at the roots of our most difficult problems. For even when partners don't feel a strong identification with their racial, religious, or cultural groups, they discover that their loyalty to the past goes deeper than they realized. Psychotherapist Joel Crohn has learned in years of counseling couples in cross-cultural relationships that how partners negotiate their cultural and religious differences is as important as what the difference are. Over time, the reserve of a Protestant wife can seem like emotional withholding to her Jewish husband, whose openness seems intrusive to her. An Asian father may feel his children need more discipline, while his American wife thinks they have it harder than she did. A black Trinidadian man is excited about the opportunities in the United States, while his Detroit-born black girlfriend thinks he's naive about racism. The methods in Mixed Matches have helped these and many other couples approach each other compassionately, teaching them to "translate" their different styles of expression and negotiate successful resolutions. Dr. Crohn also offers practical advice on how couples can confront prejudice and stereotypes, deal with in-laws, and help children achieve a sense of identity in a bicultural family.

This issue of JSI focuses on interethnic marriage. Our objectives are to (1) discuss conceptual and methodological concerns; (2) examine interethnic marital relationship processes especially through the lens of interdependence theory; (3) review attitudes towards interethnic marriage; (4) assess the clinical and policy implications; and (5) synthesize the contemporary scholarship. We draw upon the subject areas of intergroup and interpersonal relations including contributions from authors across various disciplines. Given the status of interethnic marriage as a potential bellwether of social change in the United States, we believe that the present edition is as timely as it is important.

Mixed Blood serves an important function in drawing together a far-ranging set of experiences, all of which bear on the phenomenon of intermarriage. -- from publisher's site

Therapists who work with couples will find valuable background information on some of the major ethnic groups who intermarry in the United States--black, Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, Korean, Philippino, and Caucasian. Intermarriage in the United States presents A thorough compilation of information on issues of interracial and intercultural marriage in the United States, focusing particularly on the difficulties and failures of the marriages. This unique and much-needed volume focuses on the psychological conditions of the marriage partners, intermarriage as an indicator of social assimilation and integration, hypergamy, including both caste and class hypergamy, and much more.