identitetas

Identitetas is a concept that denotes the set of characteristics, experiences, and meanings through which a person or group is recognized as a distinct entity. The term derives from Latin identitas, through French identité, and in Lithuanian usage identitetas refers to personal identity, social identity, or the broader sense of selfhood. In scholarly writing, identitetas encompasses how individuals perceive themselves and how others categorize them, across time and context.

Personal identity refers to the continuity of self over time and the subjective sense of being the same person, anchored by memory, embodiment, and conscious experience. Social and cultural identity focuses on group memberships—such as nationality, ethnicity, gender, religion, or profession—and how these affiliations shape roles, behavior, and belonging. Identity can be fluid and multifaceted, changing with life events and social environments.

Theoretical approaches include psychological perspectives on self-concept and narrative identity, and sociological theories such as social identity theory, which emphasizes group-based categorization and intergroup dynamics. In law and administration, legal or official identity is the recognized status that enables access to rights and services, typically evidenced by documents like birth certificates and national IDs.

In the digital age, identitetas extends to digital identity: the information used to verify who someone is online, managed through authentication, identity verification processes, and identity governance. Concerns about privacy, data protection, and identity theft are central to contemporary discussions.