Affiliation:
1. Marymount Manhattan College, USA
Abstract
This chapter begins with the historical antecedents of interracial dating and marriages (IRM) within the United States and then the increasing rates of IRM in the 21st century. Several forms of discrimination against interracial couples such as racial microaggressions and the transmission of implicit racial attitudes within the family, are analyzed. The Marketplace Economy Theory is also examined. It attempts to explain the existence of IR couples. Theories behind the origins of racism against IRMs are explored. Asian American dating interracially is also discussed. The latter section examines the implications of IRMs for mental health counselors. It provides recommendations of techniques and special therapy styles that may be more effective for IR couples and IRMs during therapy sessions. These techniques (including goal-oriented sessions, based on strengths, psychodynamic approaches, and postmodern approaches) may be more efficacious due to the unique problems IR couples encounter. Suggestions are provided for why further research into biracial and multiracial children is needed.