1. The Privileged Identity Exploration (PIE) Model REVISITED
Sherry K. Watt, Cindy Ann Kilgo, Kira Pasquesi, and John A. Mueller
ACPA – Tampa, FL – March 6, 2015

2. Program outline Opening reflection
Privileged Identity Exploration (PIE) model
Key concepts and methodology
Theory revisions/updates
Defensive reactions
Theory application
Utility of model
Strategies for addressing defenses
Future research
Sherry

3. Reflection
“a shudder that unhinges us from our moorings or yanks us from our anchors” (West, 1999)
“…they now experience a kind of ontological dizziness, a sense of remoteness from reality, as though nothing were sure or real anymore” (Killinger, 1966).
Identify a time when you experienced a sense of intellectual vertigo in exploring a privileged identity. How did you cope with the dizziness? What reactions arose in you, if any?
Kira

4. Privileged Identity Exploration
Describes a set of primal responses--or defense mechanisms as defined by psychodynamic theory--in which an individual with identity-based privilege may engage to protect the ego when that privilege is brought into awareness and threatens one’s sense of self (Watt, 2007).
Developed from a grounded theory research study

5. Research Methodology
Research question: In what ways do students express resistance in reaction to difficult classroom dialogues about racism, sexism, homophobia, and ableism?
From , collected 225 personal narratives and reaction papers from a master’s level multiculturalism course
Preliminary investigation included 9 participants and their 27 reaction papers
Analysis employed Consensual Qualitative Research methods
John

6. Overview of PIE model
Eight defense modes associated with behaviors individuals display when engaged in difficult dialogues about social justice issues and/or social circumstances and encounters that bring one’s privilege into awareness
Privileged identity refers to an identity that is historically linked to social or political advantages in this society
Presence of fear/anxiety (afraid to go deeper) and entitlement (should not have to go deeper)
John

7. Key assumptions
Exploration of privileged identity (e.g., White, heterosexual, male) is an ongoing socialization process and there is no ultimate level of consciousness
To truly explore privileged identities, people need to engage in self- awakening difficult dialogues about social oppression
Defense modes are innate and normal human reactions when introduced to dissonance provoking stimuli
There is an intersection of privileged and marginalized identities within each person
John

8. Updates and revisions Location of Self
Defenses serve as a protection while individuals work to locate the self in relation to a dissonance provoking stimuli (DPS)
Need to manage the disequilibrium, reduce anxiety, and resolve inner conflict
Dissonance animated by fear (afraid to go deeper) or entitlement (do not have to go deeper)
Sherry-The model distinguishes various types of reactions that become increasingly more complex as thought and emotion move from the preconscious to the conscious in response to a DPS.

9. Updates and revisions
Process of Unconscious, Preconscious, Conscious Awareness
Reorganizes the defenses by noting how they become increasingly more complex as thought and emotion move from the preconscious to the conscious in response to a DPS.
Situating of Thought and Emotion (i.e. denial having little thought nor emotion versus benevolence infusion of both thought and emotion)
Sherry-The model distinguishes various types of reactions that become increasingly more complex as thought and emotion move from the preconscious to the conscious in response to a DPS.

10. Updates and revisions Home Base
A’ home base’ defense is the one people retreat first and likely in response to any DPS regardless of the situation.
Worldview (including privileged and marginalized identities)
Linear progression of a non-linear concept
Sherry-The model distinguishes various types of reactions that become increasingly more complex as thought and emotion move from the preconscious to the conscious in response to a DPS.

11. S.Watt, Associate Professor, University of Iowa
The Privileged Identity Exploration (PIE) Model
Dissonance Provoking Stimuli
New Awareness of Self or Other
Social Justice Action based on
New Awareness
Rationalization
Minimization
Intellectualization
False Envy
Benevolence
Deflection
Denial
Principium
Entitlement
Fear
Sherry
S. Watt, Associate Professor, University of Iowa
Recognizing
Privileged Identity
Addressing
Privileged Identity
Contemplating
Privileged Identity

12. Recognizing
Movement of dissonance provoking stimuli from the unconscious to the preconscious
Actively deny or displace new information away from their sense of self
Not aware of emotion or thought-processes

13. Denial
Denial is a defensive reaction that denies the existence of a dissonance provoking stimuli (DPS).
“That privilege does not exist.”
“That privilege doesn’t relate to me.”
John
Recognizing

14. Deflection
Deflection is a defensive reaction that shifts the focus of the DPS toward another source. “It’s not about that privilege, it’s about this…” “It’s not my fault.”
John
Recognizing

15. Contemplating
Movement toward a preconscious understanding of dissonance provoking stimuli
Awaken emotions and thought-processes, but thought guides the reactions

16. Minimization
Minimization is a defensive reaction that lessens the issues surrounding the DPS. “It’s not that big a deal.” “It might be a problem for some people, but it’s not that important to me.”
Cindy Ann
Contemplating

17. Rationalization
Rationalization is a defensive reaction that generates alternative explanations for the DPS. “Here’s the logical reason why this privilege exists.” “Here’s the logical reason I operated from that position.”
Cindy Ann
Contemplating

18. Intellectualization
Intellectualization is a defensive reaction that attempts to explain the DPS as a data point or with academic theories. “Here are outside sources that explain that privilege.”
Kira
Contemplating

19. Addressing
Movement from the preconscious to the conscious in understanding dissonance provoking stimuli
Emotions and intellect merge together as individuals dissect their beliefs and values
More complex or sophisticated in terms of emotion and cognitive processing

20. False Envy
False Envy is a defensive reaction that compliments or expresses affection toward a person or a feature of a person that represents the DPS. “I have this privilege, but look at all you have/get in spite of not having this privilege.”
Kira
Addressing

21. Principium
Principium is a defensive reaction that reports a principle to defend against the DPS. “Even though there’s privilege, everyone has the right to their own values.” “I may have this privilege, but these are my values.”
Sherry
Addressing

22. Benevolence
Benevolence is a defensive reaction that uses an act of charity to situate the self in relation to the DPS. “I have this privilege, but look at all I’ve done.” “This privilege exists, but there are so many people doing good.”
Sherry
Addressing

23. Dyad discussions
Share with a partner a time when you displayed a defense or observed it in others.
Describe the circumstances of the defensive reaction.
What indicated to you that it was a defensive reaction? (e.g. behaviors or statements)
What was body language like in the space?
How did it make you feel as someone observing or displaying the defense?
Cindy Ann

24. Utility of the PIE model
Normalize privileged identity defenses
Name identifiable reactions
Facilitate personal understanding of a ‘home base’ defense or a defense pattern
Identify and manage defenses in difficult dialogues
Sherry

25. Current and future research
Development of an instrument to measure privileged identity defenses
Exploring Privilege: Student Graduate Student Reactions to Difficult Dialogues on Racism, Heterosexism, and Ableism (Watt, Harmon, Mindrup, Goodman, Linley, Stinson, Bagheri, Venzon, Arbisi-Kelm, & Parker)
John

26. Thank you Sherry K. Watt, Associate Professor, University of Iowa
John A. Mueller, Professor, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Kira Pasquesi, Doctoral Candidate, University of Iowa
Cindy Ann Kilgo, Doctoral Student, University of Iowa

27. References
Watt, S. K. (in press). Designing transformative multicultural initiatives: Theoretical foundations, practical applications and facilitator considerations. Stylus Publishing: Sterling, VA. Watt, S. K. (2007). Developing cultural competence: Facilitating privileged identity exploration in student affairs practice. College Student Affairs Journal, 26(2), Watt, S. K., Curtiss, G., Drummond, J., Kellogg, A., Lozano, A., Tagliapietra, N. G., & Rosas, M. (2009). Privileged identity exploration: Examining white female counselor trainee's reactions to difficult dialogue in the classroom. Counselor Education & Supervision, 49,