Abstract

This article is devoted to the complex phenomenon of bi-ethnic marriage, particularly its motivational intra- and interpsychological
factors. The theoretical framework of this study is based on innovative interpretation of social-cultural
theory and its application in the phenomenon of bi-ethnic families. It is created by integrating Luria’s (1976) ideas
that culture determines relationships of human beings within society and forms consciousness and selfconsciousness
one’s personal activity; and Murstein’s (1982; 1999) ones that homogeneity factor (in values and
religious orientation) is dominant in motivation to choose a marriage partner. Also within this theoretical framework
core emphasis is made on ethnic identity, which is understood through its cognitive and affective components
structure.
The methods chosen to investigate the intra - and inter - psychological factors allowed to prove the hypothesis that
choice of bi-ethnic marriage partner is motivated and determined by a complex variety of inter - and intra -
psychological factors. For example, representatives of mono-ethnic marriages comply with the homogeneity
principle I, choosing their spouse and their motivation includes the criterion of social approval of their ethnically
homogeneous partner (inter-psychological factor) and indicators of ethnic identity (intra-psychological factor).
Therefore, the representatives of the bi-ethnic marriage have lower indicators of ethnic identity compared to the
representatives of the mono-ethnic family; and there are significant differences in value orientations among bi-ethnic
marriage spouses compared to the mono-ethnic family members, if there are high indicators of the internal locus of
control factor.