Abstract: The subject of the study is patriotism. The author conducted a theoretical analysis of domestic and foreign scientific literature on the problem of patriotism. The features of approaches to the study of this phenomenon in the framework of philosophical, sociological, historical, psychological, pedagogical and psychological disciplines are considered in detail. A comparative analysis of the theoretical views of foreign and domestic authors on the content and nature of patriotism is carried out. An analysis of the literature allows us to conclude that Western and Russian studies of patriotism have many connotations, especially in the sociological and political sciences. Western and domestic scientists have identified similar essential signs of patriotism: patriotism as one of the highest feelings, as a creative feeling; patriotism as selfless work for the benefit of one's country, as a manifestation of higher feelings in action, as a duty to the country; patriotism as a deeply social phenomenon, as a civic virtue.   The author conducts a comparative theoretical analysis of foreign and domestic approaches to the study of the problem of patriotism, understanding the psychological nature of this phenomenon. The main conclusions of the study are: in the studies of foreign scientists, patriotism is analyzed in the context of national and social issues and is practically not studied as a personal education, property or quality; at the heart of patriotism, most foreign authors note identification with their country based on feelings of love, pride and shame. In the West, patriotism is seen as a phenomenon of political awareness, quite closely related to nationalism. In Russian literature, such essential signs of patriotism as statehood and personality, which is the main subject of patriotism, are noted. The differences in the interpretation of the concept of "patriotism" and in approaches to its research can be explained by fundamental differences in culture and state and political traditions. In turn, the intersections in the definition of patriotism indicate that this phenomenon has certain interethnic and interstate features. The question of studying remains open and quite relevant.