PERCEPTION OF SOCIAL IDENTITY OF SLOVAKS IN HUNGARY AND HUNGARIANS IN SLOVAKIA

The paper deals with the issue of perception of social identity of Slovak minority in Hungary and Hungarian minority in Slovakia. In the first part, it presents a theoretical background for the study of social identity with a particular attention given to the study of ethnic identity as its segment. In the second part, the paper focuses on development trends and important factors determining an ethnic identity. It presents the state of the art of research into the ethno-social identity of the members of Slovak minority living in Hungary and the members of Hungarian minority living in Slovakia drawing on analysis and research findings from the studies carried out in Slovakia and Hungary. In the third part, the authoress interprets the research results from two sociological and social-psychological studies conducted among the members of Slovak minority in Hungary (2001) and among the members of Hungarian minority in Slovakia (2004).