When Differences Do (and Do Not) Make a Difference: How Individual Identities Influence Reactions to Diversity

This chapter proposes a model of person-situation interactions to explain when individuals react to diversity in their work places. Qualitative research reported here suggests individual identities likely influence reactions to diversity and should be considered in conjunction with traditional situational factors. The model developed from this research looks at interactions between high and low identification with demographic categories and strong and weak situational cues toward such categories to explain when individuals are most likely to respond (or not respond) to diversity. The proposition that motivated reactions to diversity are observable only when both situational and personal factors contribute is advanced.