The triad in conceptualization of identity: construction, transition, and imaginaries
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62452/rz0z3388Keywords:
gnoseology, social representations, individualization, social imaginariesAbstract
Identity constitutes a central concept for understanding the processes of subject formation and the transformations of contemporary societies. The aim of this study was to analyze the main theoretical perspectives that explain identity from a sociological approach, identifying the conceptual elements involved in its configuration and evolution. A theoretical documentary study was conducted based on the critical, comparative, and interpretative analysis of specialized scientific literature on identity, social representations, social imaginaries, biographical transitions, and individualization, incorporating contributions from both classical and contemporary sociology. The review identified a conceptual triad composed of construction, transition, and imaginaries as the key dimensions underlying identity, demonstrating that identity is shaped through continuous processes of socialization, interaction, recognition, and the production of shared meanings. Furthermore, the findings indicate that the transformations associated with modernization, globalization, and cultural change have fostered more dynamic, reflexive, and open forms of identification, moving beyond rigid or essentialist conceptions. The results also show that identity is closely linked to biographical trajectories, historical contexts, institutions, and social relationships that shape individual experiences. It is concluded that identity should be understood as a relational, dynamic, and multidimensional process, constructed through the ongoing interaction between social structures, personal experiences, and shared symbolic frameworks. This perspective overcomes deterministic approaches and provides a broader interpretative framework for analyzing identity transformations in contexts characterized by diversity, social mobility, and the continuous changes of contemporary societies.
Downloads
References
Bartolomé Pina, M. (2002). Identidad y ciudadanía: Un reto para la educación intercultural. Narcea.
Bauman, Z. (2001). La sociedad individualizada. Cátedra.
Bauman, Z. (2002). Modernidad líquida. Fondo de Cultura Económica.
Berger, P. L., & Luckmann, T. (1968). La construcción social de la realidad. Amorrortu.
Berger, P. L., Berger, B., & Kellner, H. (1979). Un mundo sin hogar: Modernización y conciencia. Sal Terrae.
Bonfil Batalla, G., & Valenzuela Arce, J. M. (1992). Decadencia y auge de las identidades: Cultura nacional, identidad cultural y modernización. Plaza y Valdés.
Camilleri, C. (1993). Les conditions structurelles de l'interculturel. Revue Française de Pédagogie, 103, 17–25. https://www.persee.fr/doc/rfp_0556-7807_1993_num_103_1_1296
Castells, M. (1997). The power of identity (Vol. 2). Blackwell Publishers.
Dongo, A. (2009). Significado de los factores sociales y culturales en el desarrollo cognitivo. Revista de Investigación en Psicología, 12(2), 227–237. https://dialnet.unirioja.es/descarga/articulo/3268452.pdf
Dubar, C. (2010). La socialisation: Construction des identités sociales et professionnelles. Armand Colin.
Dubet, F. (2007). La experiencia sociológica. Gedisa.
Erikson, E. H. (1977). Psychosocial identity. En International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences (Vol. 5). Macmillan.
Gergen, K. J. (1992). El yo saturado: Dilemas de identidad en el mundo contemporáneo. Paidós.
Giddens, A. (1991). Modernidad e identidad del yo: El yo y la sociedad en la época contemporánea. Península.
Girola, L. (2020). Imaginarios y representaciones sociales, Teoría del Actor-Red y cambios en la socialidad y la gestión de los afectos. Cultura Y Representaciones Sociales, 15(29), 93–122. Recuperado a partir de https://www.culturayrs.unam.mx/index.php/CRS/article/view/827
Hernando, A. (2002). Arqueología de la identidad. Akal.
Jolivet, R. (1956). Tratado de filosofía. II. Psicología. Ediciones Carlos Lohlé.
Larraín, J. (2003). El concepto de identidad. Revista Famecos, 21, 30–42. https://revistaseletronicas.pucrs.br/revistafamecos/article/download/3211/2476
Reguillo, R. (1991). En la calle otra vez: Las bandas, identidad urbana y usos de la comunicación. Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Occidente.
Tajfel, H. (1974). Social identity and intergroup behaviour. Social Science Information, 13(2), 65–93. https://doi.org/10.1177/053901847401300204
Taylor, C. (1993). El multiculturalismo y la política del reconocimiento. Fondo de Cultura Económica.
Yardley, K., & Honess, T. (1987). Self and identity: Psychosocial perspectives. John Wiley & Sons.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Jennifer Quiroz-Fragoso, Coralia Juana Pérez-Maya (Autor/a)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish in Revista Metropolitana de Ciencias Aplicadas (REMCA), agree to the following terms:
1. Copyright
Authors retain unrestricted copyright to their work. Authors grant the journal the right of first publication. To this end, they assign the journal non-exclusive exploitation rights (reproduction, distribution, public communication, and transformation). Authors may enter into additional agreements for the non-exclusive distribution of the version of the work published in the journal, provided that acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal is given.
© The authors.
2. License
The articles are published in the journal under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0). The terms can be found at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en
This license allows:
- Sharing: Copying and redistributing the material in any medium or format.
- Adapting: Remixing, transforming, and building upon the material.
Under the following terms:
- Attribution: You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if any changes were made. You may do this in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses or sponsors your use.
- NonCommercial: You may not use the material for commercial purposes.
- ShareAlike: If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your creation under the same license as the original work.
There are no additional restrictions. You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
