Transracial Identity and the Effect on the Life Circumstances: A Pilot Study in 14 Participants

摘要

Goal : The term “Transracial Identity” first appeared in science around 2017. The people concerned identify themselves with a different ethnicity or nationality, respectively they feel a strong attraction to it, in contrast to the one t hey were born into. Transracial identity can possibly be compared to Transgender or Body Integrity Dysphoria. The leading question of this article is: How does “transracial identity” affect the life circumstances of those affected? Methods : A questionnaire with items about personal information and the feelings of being transracial was created. The Big-Five-Inventory-10 was used aiming at investigating parallels of personality in Transracials. In addition, Düsseldorf’s Questionnaire of Transidentity , and the Questionnaire of the Body Integrity Identity Disorder were used to find out parallels with Transgender or Body Integrity Dysphoria . Sample : The study consists of a sample of 14 subjects, who identify as transracial (average age 30 ± 8.9 years, 35.7% (n = 5) male and 6 4.3% (n = 9) female ) . Participants from nearly all ethnicities identify with nearly any other race. Results : A correlation between discontent of life and the desire to change the race could not be stated. The hypoth esis that individuals, identifying with another ethnicity or race, more often suffer from a mental disease than the general population, could be accepted. However, it remains unclear whether the dissatisfaction with one ’ s own race can cause depression or if depression is the cause of the “transracial identity” and whether those affected believe they can solve their psychological problems by changing to a new identity. Parallels to Transgender and Body Integrity Dysphoria were found. Regarding attractivity, unhappiness with their appearance is of vital importance. Thus, transracials’ satisfaction with their bodies and faces is rather low. This can be explained by the fact that their current biological ethnicity, with which their appearance is also connected, does not corre spond to the desired ethnicity.