Educational Psychology / Unit 9 EDP 0816 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Ogbu's Oppositional Identity
Captions available
The idea
John Ogbu's theory distinguishes voluntary minorities, who immigrated by choice, from involuntary minorities, whose ancestors did not choose to join the society, and argues that some involuntary-minority students form an oppositional cultural identity that rejects school success.
In practice
Peers, the theory holds, may treat school success as abandoning the group.
Where people slip
This is one theory, attributed to Ogbu, and its evidence is contested.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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