Identification of a person's personality from the point of view of psychology is a special psychophysical process, in the course and result of which the subject is assimilated or dissimilated with others. Such actions can be motivated by the need for psychological protection .
Why is this happening?
Initially, unconscious projections are assimilated by the person in an attempt at mimicry and assimilation, this is an important psycho-social mechanism of normal development from childhood. That is, the conscious identification of oneself with another (or others) presupposes the assimilation and realization of the qualities of the object of imitation.
How does this happen?
Identification of personality occurs on the basis of unconscious imitation.
Identification is a convenient development option, assuming only a partial responsibility (the rationale is: "I act this way, and this is correct because the authorities that are important to me"). As soon as a real opportunity of independent choice (without prompts and orientations) of the path of development appears, the identification of a person (more precisely, self-identification) begins to hamper the development of the personality.
Many try not to go out to independence for the rest of their lives - they are so comfortable, do not have to think and decide. The situation when self-identification is contrary to development is called dissociation of personality, in other words, it is a deep, inner conflict . Such a condition can lead to mental disorders.
Personality, as it were split into two subpersonalities, conflicting with each other.
Ideological moments
Sometimes a person is identified not with other people, but with any movements or enterprises organized according to ideological, spiritual or production principles (different religions, parties, participation in the activities of business enterprises). In such cases, the personality undergoes special deformations, but the real individual is forced into the unconscious. Thus, there may be some change in the identification of a person's identity (for example, parents are engineers, and a son or daughter is doctors or art historians). Actually, this is a normal process of individuation of the individual. Individuation is a sign of a developed personality, the main thing is that individuation does not acquire a narrow one-sided character.