The Concept of Identity: Key Disciplinary Approaches

This article summarizes existing approaches to the study of the concept of “identity”. Concepts within the psychological approach emphasize the psychological mechanism of identity formation and development, the manifestation of personality, and its value-semantic system at the level of individual consciousness. The sociological view on personal identity rests on the notion that social reality actively shapes individual preferences rather than merely reflecting them. Socialization enables individuals to internalize values intrinsic to their origin society. The premise of culture serving as the basis for moral, aesthetic, and intellectual human development anchors the culturological approach to defining personal identity, harboring extensive heuristic potential. Culturologists posit that personality formation manifests as a simultaneous convergence and reciprocal exchange among cultures. The authors conclude that disciplinary fragmentation necessitates an integrative approach, deemed productive when grounded in the principle of complementarity. Integration allows simultaneous deliberation upon distinct facets of the “identity” phenomenon, viewing disciplinary approaches as developmental moments in a holistic, comprehensive concept of identity. In conclusion, the authors propose their definition of the concept “identity”.