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Identification, according to Sigmund Freud, is an unconscious transfer of
feelings, features, features that are inherent to another person. Freud argued that
identification is protection from an object (which causes fear) through likeness to
it. In Freud’s words, by means of identification small children adapt behavior

patterns of people who are significant for them, e.g. a Superman, take on a male or
female role. Thus, a boy unknowingly imitates his father and seeks to earn his love
and respect. Randomly identifying with the aggressor, the subject can get rid of

fear. When a boy feels weak and helpless, he wants to be "father", that is, identifies
with his father. When a teenager feels excited, he tries to be as balanced and strong
as a movie hero (he identifies himself with a movie hero).

Thanks to Freud's identification, symbolic possession of a desired, but
unattainable object is achieved (which is the case in the ediphic complex when a
boy is identified with his father promoting the development of normal sexuality of

an individual). For the first time, the mechanism of cultural identification was
disclosed in Freud's psychological concept, created on the basis of
patopsychological observations, and then circulated in a “normal” spiritual life.
Freud's socialization mechanisms are the following: imitation is conscious attempt

by a child to copy and mimic the behavior of adults and friends; identification –
assimilation by children of the behavior of parents, social values and norms as their

own; a sense of shame and guilt or negative socialization mechanisms that prohibit
and suppress some behavioral patterns. These models work predominantly at a
childhood stage. However, some researchers use Freudian concepts for adults as
well.

The leading thought of the entire scientific work of E. Fromm is the
imperative of creation of a person of a new type – a holistic personality. At the
same time, he emphasizes a human-shaping function performed by a social context

and concludes that a modern mechanized model of society does not contribute to
the development of a full-fledged personality. Hence, human identity tends to
become more "to have" and increasingly distant from "to be", and these

phenomena become more and more commonplace as a false identity or a total loss
of identity. To solve this problem, E. Fromm formulates a concept of social
reorganization, which should be based on a new science of man, as well as on the

principles of humanistic ethics.
E. Fromm applies the concept of "identity" and "identity crisis" in his
writings. The scientist considers the problem of the formation of a holistic person
and uses its term "identity" to define it. Based on Freud's idea of narcissism

inherent in human nature, E. Fromm offers a view of history as a process of
fighting narcissism with humanism. The researcher denies Freud's claim that it is
impossible to overcome human narcissism – it is impossible, and expresses the

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