ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the various descriptions and components attributed to the self and self-concept and relates this to identity and its component parts and descriptions-specifically, cultural identity and the cultural self. Cultural identity is viewed as developing within ecological/cultural con texts and is influenced by person interactions between external variables (e.g., physical and cultural environment) and internal variables (biological and psychological). This view is consistent with the biopsychosocial model (Engel, 1977, 1980), Berry's Ecocultural model (Berry, Poortinga, Segall, & Dasen, 1992), and Marsella's interactional model (Marsella & Kameoka, 1989). An example of a cultural formulation is provided to assess specific influences of culture on an individual's behavior and personality. Accu racy of psychological assessment is related to accurate cultural formula tion and is viewed as essential and necessary for competent multicultural assessment practices in psychology. Cultural identity is viewed as a life span process evolving and changing as the individual moves through the various psychosocial stages of development. This view is consistent with ecological systems theory, which stresses that the person is affected by a range of environmental influences from immediate settings to broad cul tural values (Berk, 1998).
