Personality Development in the Process of Acquiring the Position of Parent

The problem discussed in the paper concerns the possibility of applying the concept of cultural determination of child and adolescent development to the study of adult development. The author addresses the problem of one's appropriation of the social position of parent following the birth of a child. This position is regarded as a cultural-historical phenomenon; it is defined through the functions carried out by the parent, and certain characteristics described by the author reveal the specificity of this position in relation to other positions. Acquisition of any social position results in one's attitude towards the position. The author assumes that one can only appropriate social position if his/her attitude towards its main characteristics is positive. The author also outlines the problems and difficulties arising in the process of one's appropriation of the position of parent. The result of this process is the emergence of the inner position of parent, which, in the author's opinion, can be considered a new psychological formation of adulthood.