Identity: it''s the essence and the basic configurations

Abstract

Identity is seen as a set of the person's self-definitions constituting his/her role prescriptions (including features, skills, inclinations necessary to fulfill those prescriptions) and status (the person's belonging to some or other group whose members share appropriate rights and obligations and have the same symbolic capital). This set constitutes a person's self-consciousness and reflects the total of social positions forming the society. However, the person adjusts expectations of society on the basis of his/her own demands and abilities. The main forms of identity are: supporting (socially acceptable) identity, transformed (imitating), marginal (terminal), accumulated, actual and projected ones. The little-studied problem of the identity projecting is examined in detail.