Ethnic identity divergence within extended family groups: a conceptual model of mechanisms and factors, and a South-Azerbaijani case study

This study examines why individuals raised in a large South Azerbaijani extended-family develop different levels of ethnic identity salience. Drawing on nine family-unit conversations (n=41) and iterative qualitative coding, the analysis identifies the mechanisms that impact divergence of ethnic identity with the extended family. Findings show clustered, non-polarized identity positions and asymmetric shifts toward stronger Azerbaijani salience for some individuals. The paper proposes the Family-Identity-Divergence Model (FID-Model), explaining how shared environments yield enduring identity divergence.