Final answer:
Positive identification with one's ethnic and racial group is typically associated with higher academic achievement due to beneficial effects of racial socialization and the development of cultural competence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The extent to which children understand and identify positively with their ethnic and racial group tends to predict higher academic achievement. This is due to the positive effects of racial socialization, a process where caregivers teach children about the positive aspects of their in-group, as found by researchers like Neblett et al. (2009). Studies such as those by Rogers and Meltzoff (2017), as well as the historical work of Prosser, demonstrate that racial and ethnic identity shapes the self-concept and influences attitudes towards multiculturalism and education in both direct and nuanced ways.
Diverse family socialization strategies play a role as well. For example, a child raised to value connections across racial, religious, and ethnic lines will likely develop a greater sense of cultural competence and openness, while a child brought up with exclusive in-group favoritism may be less equipped to engage with multiculturalism.
The impact of racial and ethnic identity is particularly profound for children from minority groups, who, compared to the dominant ethnic majority, may have heightened awareness of their identity due to experiences of discrimination or through specific cultural socialization. This insight into one's identity can, in turn, influence academic performance and social attitudes.