Differentiation, individuation, and identity formation: the integration of family system and individual developmental perspectives

This paper examines the constructs of individuation, differentiation, and identity formation from the individual development and family system theory perspectives. The goal of the paper is to achieve a more thorough understanding of the role of the individuation process in identity formation, and the role of the family system's level of differentiation as a mediator of both these processes. The basic assumption is that both the family system and individual developmental perspectives are interdependent in that the individuation and identity formation process encompass two frames of reference--the individual's efforts toward separation from the family of origin and the impact of these efforts on identity formation and the family system as the social framework within which, and in relation to which, the individuation occurs.