Cross Racial Identity Scale (CRIS)

Abstract

The Cross Racial Identity Scale (CRIS) is a sophisticated psychometrics instrument developed to measure the nuanced structure of racial identity attitudes among individuals of African descent, primarily African Americans. The scale operationalizes the expanded version of the classic Nigrescence theory, providing distinct subscales that correspond to different stages and attitudes within the racial identity development process. It is a 40-item, self-report measure used extensively in counseling and psychological research to understand how individuals perceive themselves in relation to their racial group and the broader American society.

Keywords

Cross Racial Identity Scale, CRIS, Racial identity, Nigrescence theory, African American, Black identity, Multiculturalist attitudes, Afrocentricity, Psychometrics, Counseling Psychology.

Authors

Fred C. Worrell, Beverly J. Vandiver, William E. Cross, Jr.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Cross Racial Identity Scale (CRIS) is to provide a comprehensive and psychometrically sound measure of the racial identity attitudes associated with the expanded Nigrescence theory model. This instrument moves beyond simpler measures by capturing the complexity of identity development, including both negative self-perceptions and internalized positive or diverse group affiliations.

Specifically, the CRIS was designed to empirically test and validate the theoretical dimensions proposed in the expanded model, allowing researchers and clinicians to assess an individual’s location across six distinct identity attitude clusters. It facilitates the understanding of how varying racial attitudes impact psychological adjustment, educational outcomes, and interpersonal relationships within the African American population.

Construct

The CRIS is grounded in the expanded Nigrescence theory, a model conceptualized by William E. Cross, Jr., concerning the process of becoming Black. The scale measures six core identity attitudes, which are clustered into three major developmental stages:

• Preencounter Attitudes: Characterized by attitudes toward one’s race that are either detached, negative, or assimilated into the dominant culture.
• Preencounter Assimilation (PA)
• Preencounter Miseducation (PM)
• Preencounter Self-Hatred (PSH)
• Immersion-Emersion Attitude: Characterized by immersion into Black culture and often accompanied by intense anti-White sentiment.
• Immersion-Emersion Anti-White (IEAW)
• Internalization Attitudes: Characterized by secure and healthy internalization of one’s racial identity, allowing for either an Afrocentric focus or an inclusive, Multiculturalist perspective.
• Internalization Afrocentric (IA)
• Internalization Multiculturalist Inclusive (IMI)

The CRIS measures the degree to which an individual endorses these distinct attitudinal clusters, thereby mapping their current stance within the continuum of racial identity development.

Validity

Extensive research has been conducted to validate the CRIS scores, particularly focusing on structural validity. Studies, including those utilizing confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), consistently support the hypothesized six-factor structure derived from the expanded Nigrescence model. This structural validation confirms that the subscales measure distinct, yet related, aspects of racial identity attitudes.

Furthermore, the scale has demonstrated construct validity through correlations with other psychological variables, such as self-esteem, psychological distress, and worldview orientation, showing that the measured identity attitudes predict relevant behavioral and psychological outcomes in a theoretically consistent manner. The scale’s ability to differentiate between attitudinal profiles across various samples of African American adults further supports its validity.

Reliability

The internal consistency reliability of the CRIS scores has been consistently reported as strong across multiple samples and research studies, indicating that the items within each subscale reliably measure the intended construct. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for the six subscales typically fall within acceptable to excellent ranges, demonstrating high reliability for research and clinical purposes.

Observed Cronbach’s alpha ranges across various studies (Vandiver et al., 2002; Worrell et al., 2006; Hubbard, 2011) include:

• Preencounter Assimilation: .70 to .85
• Preencounter Miseducation: .77 to .89
• Preencounter Self-Hatred: .70 to .89
• Immersion-Emersion Anti-White: .81 to .90
• Internalization Afrocentric: .80 to .85
• Internalization Multiculturalist Inclusive: .74 to .86

These reliability statistics affirm that the CRIS provides stable and consistent measurement of the specific racial identity attitudes it targets.

Factor Analysis

The factor structure of the Cross Racial Identity Scale has been rigorously examined using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to test the fit of the proposed six-factor model based on the expanded Nigrescence theory. This analysis confirmed that the 40 items load onto the hypothesized six orthogonal factors: Preencounter Assimilation, Preencounter Miseducation, Preencounter Self-Hatred, Immersion-Emersion Anti-White, Internalization Afrocentric, and Internalization Multiculturalist Inclusive (Worrell & Watson, 2008).

The robust findings from the CFA studies provide strong empirical support for using the CRIS scores to measure the six distinct, yet integrated, attitude clusters central to the expanded Nigrescence model, allowing for deeper profile analyses and generalization of Nigrescence profiles across independent samples (Worrell et al., 2006).

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report questionnaire, Psychological Scale

Format: 40 items, rated on a 7-point Likert scale (0 = Strongly disagree to 6 = Strongly agree)

Language Available: English

Population Group: African American/Black individuals

Age Group: Adults and college-age students

Population Details: Used primarily with individuals who are exploring or have developed a Black or African American identity.

Test Methodology: Respondents indicate their level of agreement with statements reflecting various racial identity attitudes.

Keywords

Racial attitudes, Self-hatred, Assimilation, Afrocentricity, Anti-White attitudes, Internalization, Preencounter, Immersion-Emersion, Racial identity development.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not provided in source content.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not provided in source content.

Correspondence Address: Not provided in source content.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The scale was initially developed and introduced around 2000, with key validation studies published in 2002 and a technical manual released in 2004 (2nd edition). Information regarding current permissions and licensing fees must be obtained directly from the authors (Worrell, Vandiver, or Cross).

The original PDF of a key validation study (Vandiver et al., 2002) which includes the instrument can be downloaded here: http://php.scripts.psu.edu/faculty/b/j/bjv3/page2/assets/VandiverJCP02.pdf

Reference’s

• Vandiver‚ B. J.‚ Cross‚ W. E.‚ Jr.‚ Fhagen-Smith‚ P. E.‚ Worrell‚ F. C.‚ Swim‚ J.‚ & Caldwell‚ L. (2000). The Cross Racial Identity Scale. State College‚ PA: Author.
• Cross Jr‚ W. E.‚ & Vandiver‚ B. J. (2001). Nigrescence theory and measurement: introducing the cross racial identity scale (CRIS). In Ponterotto‚ J‚ G.‚ Casas‚ J‚ M.‚ Suzuki‚ L‚ A.‚ & Alexander‚ C‚ M. (Eds)‚ Handbook of Multicultural Counseling (2nd ed.). (pp. 371- 393). Thousand Oaks‚ CA: Sage Publications.
• Vandiver‚ B. J.‚ Worrell‚ F‚ C.‚ Fhagen-Smith‚ P‚ E.‚ & Cross‚ W‚ E. (2002). Validating the cross racial identity scale. Journal of Counseling Psychology‚ 49(1)‚ 71-85.
• Worrell‚ F. C.‚ Vandiver‚ B. J.‚ & Cross‚ W. E.‚ Jr.‚ (2004). The cross racial identity scale: technical manual – 2nd. edition. Berkeley‚ CA: Author.
• Vandiver‚ B. J.‚ Worrell‚ F‚ C.‚ Fhagen-Smith‚ P‚ E.‚ & Cross‚ W‚ E. (2004). Reliability and Structural Validity of Cross Racial Identity Scale Scores in a Sample of African American Adults. Journal of Black Psychology‚ 30(4)‚ 489-505.
• Worrell‚ F‚ C.‚ Vandiver‚ B. J.‚Fhagen-Smith‚ P‚ E.‚ & Cross‚ W‚ E. (2006).Generalizing Nigrescence Profiles: Cluster Analyses of Cross Racial Identity Scale (CRIS) Scores in Three Independent Samples. Counseling Psychologist‚ 34(4)‚ 519-547.
• Worrell‚ F‚ C.‚ & Watson‚ S. (2008). A confirmatory factor analysis of cross racial identity scale (CRIS) Scores: testing the expanded nigrescence model. Educational and Psychological Measurement‚ 68‚ 1041-1058.

Items of the Cross Racial Identity Scale (CRIS)

Response Scale: 0 = Strongly disagree‚ 1 = Disagree‚ 2 = Somewhat disagree‚ 3= Neither agree nor disagree 4= Somewhat agree‚ 5= Agree‚ 6= Strongly agree

1. As an African American‚ life in American is good for me.
2. I think of myself primarily as an American‚ and seldom as a member of a racial group
3. Too many Blacks “glamorize” the drug trade and fail to see opportunities that don’t involve crime.
4. I go through periods when I am down on myself because I am Black.
5. As a Multiculturalist‚ I am connected to many groups (Hispanics‚ Asian-Americans‚ Whites‚ Jews‚ gays & lesbians‚ etc.)
6. I have a strong feeling of hatred and distain for all White people.
7. I see and think about things from an Afrocentric perspective
8. When I walk into a room‚ I always take note of the racial make-up of the people around me.
9. I am not so much a member of a racial group‚ as I am an American.
10. I sometimes struggle with negative feelings about being Black.
11. My relationship with God pays an important role in my life.
12. Blacks place more emphasis on ha‎ving a good time than on hard work.
13. I believe that only those Black people who accept an Afrocentric perspective can truly solve the race problem in America.
14. I hate the White community and all that it represents.
15. When I have a chance to make a new friend‚ issues of race and ethnicity seldom play a role in who that person might be.
16. I believe it is important to have both a Black identity and a multicultural perspective‚ which is inclusive of everyone (e.g.‚ Asians‚ Latinos‚ gays & lesbians‚ Jews‚ Whites‚ etc.)
17. When I look in the mirror at my Black image‚ sometimes I do not feel good about what I see.
18. If I had to put a label on my identity‚ it would be “American‚” and not African American.
19. When I read the newspaper or a magazine‚ I always look for articles and stories that deal with race and ethnic issues.
20. Many African Americans are too lazy to see opportunities that are right in front of them.
21. As far as I am concerned‚ affirmative action will be needed for a long time.
22. Black people cannot truly be free until our daily lives are guided by Afrocentric values and principles.
23. White people should be destroyed.
24. I embrace my own Black identity‚ but I also respect and celebrate the cultural identities of other groups (e.g.‚ Native Americans‚ Whites‚ Latinos‚ Jews‚ Asian Americans‚ gays & lesbians‚ etc.)
25. Privately‚ I sometimes have negative feelings about being Black.
26. If I had to put myself into categories‚ first I would say that I am American‚ and second I am a member of a racial group.
27. My feelings and thoughts about God are very important to me.
28. African Americans are too quick to turn to crime to solve their problems.
29. When I have a chance to decorate a room‚ I tend to se‎lect pictures‚ posters‚ or works of are that express strong racial-cultural themes.
30. I hate White people.
31. I respect the ideas that other Black people hold‚ but I believe that the best way to solve our problems is to think Afrocentrically.
32. When I vote in an election‚ the first thing I think about is the candidate’s record on racial and cultural issues.
33. I believe it is important to have both a Black identity and a multicultural perspective‚ because this connects me to other groups (Hispanics‚ Asian-Americans‚ Whites‚ Jews‚ gays & lesbians‚ etc.)
34. I have developed an identity that stresses my experiences as an American more than my experiences as a member of a racial group.
35. During a typical week in my life‚ I think about racial and cultural issues many‚ many times.
36. Blacks place too much importance on racial protest and not enough on hard work and education.
37. Black people will never be free until we embrace an Afrocentric perspective.
38. My negative feelings toward White people are very intense.
39. I sometimes have negative feelings about being Black.
40. As a Multiculturalist‚ it is important for me to be connected with individuals from all cultural backgrounds (Latinos‚ gays & lesbians‚ Jews‚ Native Americans‚ Asian- Americans‚ etc.)