Helms Model Vs Cross Model Essay

Janet Helms developed the greatest researched white racial identity model to date (Sue & Sue, 2016). The Helm’s White Racial Identity Development Model is comprised of six detailed racial identity statuses that are divided evenly into two phases which require the individual to discard racism and define a nonracist white identity (Sue & Sue, 2016). The first phase in the Helms model commences with the contact status. Individuals in this status are blind to racism or incognizant of its existence, feel that everyone has the same ability to succeed in life, do not comprehend discrimination or prejudice, have few experiences with people unlike themselves, and may report that they do not see color (Sue & Sue, 2016). Disintegration is the second
Both the Helms model and the Cross model are comprised of steps – though Helms’ are referred to as statuses and Cross’ are discussed as stages. They are dissimilar in the fact that the Helms model has six statuses, while the Cross model only has five stages (Sue & Sue, 2016). In each model, the initial status or stage expresses that the individual feels whiteness is superior to all other races and should be coveted. In the Helms model this is a result of ignorance and in the Cross model this surfaces from low levels of self-esteem (Sue & Sue, 2016). The feelings pertaining to either model in the second status or stage are comparable in that the individuals harbor feelings of guilt. However, in the Helms model the person feels guilt over white privilege, while those in the Cross model bear guilt from being heavily manipulated by white society (Sue & Sue, 2016). Similarly, each model explains that individuals will undergo an insightful event that propels them into the next status or stage of the model. For the Helms model, this occurs in the fourth status (pseudo-independence) and in the Cross model, this happens during the second stage (encounter) (Sue & Sue, 2016). In both models, the idea is to change themselves for the better instead of attempting to alter others to fit their past worldviews that were likely less than positive. For the Helms model, white individuals are changing themselves in order to understand that they truly do have advantages over other cultures, while black individuals in the Cross model are shifting their attitudes in an attempt to become closer to and proud of their own culture (Sue & Sue, 2016). It is necessary to point out that both models also end at a stage or status in which the people are no longer intimidated by the opposite race, there is a higher level of acceptance of different cultures, and