Legal Consciousness of Subjects Endowed with a Special Status: Features and Forms of Manifestation

Abstract

The article considers various aspects of the legal consciousness of special subjects of law. The criteria for a special status in legal relations are indicated. It is determined that a special subject can be represented as a collective, community or individual. A general idea of the legal definition of «legal consciousness», its structural components and specific elements is given. Ordinary and professional legal consciousness, group and individual are distinguished. It has been established that any legal consciousness can be formed using the following methods: imitation, identification, interiorization and internalization. As a result, it is noted that the diversity of existing typical patterns of legal consciousness exacerbates the complexity of the scientific search for the distinctive features of the legal consciousness of special subjects of law. The features of the expression of legal consciousness of special participants in legal relations are studied. In particular, the negative and positive aspects of such a manifestation are illustrated using various examples. It is indicated that there are a number of characteristic elements that determine the influence on the legal consciousness of subjects endowed with a special status. Among them, one can single out distinctive properties that affect legal ideology and legal psychology. The special nature of the legal life of special subjects leaves an imprint on their legal consciousness. Various forms of manifestation of the legal consciousness of participants in legal relations, endowed with a special status, are considered. A paradigm is derived that the format of a person›s legal consciousness depends on his general assessment of the existing legal reality. A list of forms of manifestation of the legal consciousness of subjects with a special status has been determined, which can be divided into eight types: legal nihilism, skepticism, cynicism, realism, conformism, fetishism, infantilism and idealism.