The triad in conceptualization of identity: construction, transition, and imaginaries

Abstract

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.