Selves, Subjects, and Agents: (Re)Positioning Agency with Self-Identity and Subjectivity   

Through tracing some major historical influences and current theoretical perspectives of the human person, this article works toward providing both a foundation and rationale for a critical exploration of theories of agency, self-identity, and subjectivity. The first section traces the path of the Cartesian influence on current Western perceptions of the individual person, then reviews literature relevant to theories of self-identity, subjectivity, and agency within social construction, structuration theory, systems theory, and areas of cultural studies. Based upon these views of the human person, the second section examines agency as an under-theorized concept that requires further consideration (with self-identity and subjectivity) as a salient element of the person and theories of human identity in future research.

Marafiote, Tracy. Rocky Mountain Communication Review (2004). Articles>Rhetoric>Theory>Cultural Theory