ABSTRACT
Latin American identity was explored with University students from Chile (n= 102) and Venezuela (n= 145) by asking them to evaluate a) their degree of identification with different social categories, b) characteristics used to define the social categories and c) to engage in social comparison with three other national or supra-national categories. Even though a high degree of identification with the Latin American category was generalized, this was greater among Venezuelans. In the construction of the category, culture was frequently mentioned by both groups, as well as positive personality characteristics. Negative political conditions were more frequent among Chileans. The mention of race was related to the degree of identification in both groups. Social comparisons did not indicate generalized ethnocentrism or negative social identity, although the latter was found in relation to the Japanese. The study provides evidence about the reality and characteristics of a supra-national Latin American social identity.
