Abstract
Family is a unique relationship context that influences the contents and
processes of identity. The identity of individuals emerges, at least in part,
from being members of a family. Moreover, the family context influences
not only the development of one's personal identity as a family member
but also other aspects of personal identity. Family is not a neutral environment
for identity development. On the contrary, it deeply affects the
individual process, starting during adolescence, that leads to the development
of one's identity (Grotevant & Cooper, 1986). In this chapter, first we
briefly review the main theories that have tried to outline a definition of
family, from which we have derived our own definition. Second, we analyze
the concept of family identity. We address the topic of family identity
at three different levels: (1) at the group level, which is the specific identity
of the family as a group; (2) at the couple subsystem level, since the couple
has its own identity and, thus, its own set of potentials to be pursued;
(3) at the individual subsystem level, which is the component of individual
identity that comes from being part of a specific family group. Finally,
we aim to describe family members' identity processes and how they are
affected by the family system and in particular by the process of mutual
differentiation.