The article presents the analysis and generalizations, scientific justifications and views of scientists on the sign-symbolic system. Under this system, the "symbol" category and the "sign" category are separated. The sign is defined as a material definition, and the symbol is a treasure trove of meanings, since it has a unique ability not only to accumulate the age-old values of our predecessors, but also to form new semantic constructs through the disclosure of the contexts of ancient civilizations. This emphasizes the complementarity of the symbol and the sign, the interpenetration and ambiguity of their transition. Symbol possesses the power that can combine the perception of the world with the perception of the person him\herself when understanding the meanings. The symbol is firmly embedded in the human consciousness and is the cultural and spiritual heritage of humanity. Its origin and stages of formation are inextricably linked and are considered in the context of a long evolutionary process with cultural changes in social life. A review of various theoretical concepts in the psychological and legal sciences on the problem of symbolism and symbolization allows us to reach a deeper, integrated level of its development and to understand the mechanisms and specific features of development.