"Identify" - what does it mean in different areas of life?

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:45

To identify means to identify something with something. However, this word has a more specific meaning in different spheres of human life.

Information systems

In this field, to identify means to assign a particular identifier to a subject or object. It can be a barcode or a password in a particular system. Also called the action of comparing objects with a list of identifiers. Authorization of users on the sites occurs almost simultaneously with the process of establishing a person's identity. What leads to confusion of these concepts. It should be understood that on ordinary information sites, the user logs in, that is, goes online, gets access to commenting on materials. But for portals where financial settlements take place, it is important to identify a person. This means that the system needs to establish whether the very specific living person, with the last name, first name, passport, who is the owner of the account actually performs the action.

Science, art and forensics

In chemistry, to identify is to establishidentity between an unfamiliar connection and an already known one. This word has the same meaning in other scientific fields, where experiments are carried out comparing various objects, figures, numerical values, formulas and phenomena. Even in art, identification is sometimes used. It is necessary if, for example, it is required to establish the authorship of a work. Scientists in this case make a comparative analysis of things written by a writer, poet, composer or artist, and on the basis of the data identify or reject the controversial creation with them. In forensics, to identify means to identify a person or his things by comparing the existing facts (signs) with the unchangeable ones inherent in a particular person. These can be photographs, voice recordings, DNA, fingerprints, blood tests, and others.

Philosophy and psychology

The study of various processes in nature, as well as worldview, emotional experiences of a person is a rather difficult task. In philosophy, it is often necessary to establish the identity of a known object with an unknown one, compare them and draw certain conclusions. Based on the scientific works of leading scientists in this field, such a concept as personal identification was introduced. That is the relation of man to himself. Closely connected with this concept is another one related to psychology and being one of the types of psychological defense. This is the so-called projective identification. Its principle is that a person identifies himself with another person or group. Therefore, to the question:"Identify - what does that mean?" - you can give a specific answer. In most cases, this is to position yourself as a different person or to perceive another person as your continuation. Most often, this is the perception of parents of their child. In this case, adults believe that their offspring has fully adopted their own qualities and talents and, as a result, should desire and feel the same way as they do. Hence the hated music, drawing or sports activities for kids, unnecessary gifts, misunderstanding of the interests of adolescents, that is, the problem of “fathers and children.”

Thus, the meaning of the word "identify" in each separate area of life is original, different from all the others. The only common thing in all cases is that the actions or objects being performed are compared and either identified or not.