Identity Structures: Holons, Boundaries, Hierarchies, and the Formation of the Collaborative Identity

An individual’s identity and identity processes are important factors in understanding the individual within a system. Drawing on Marcia’s identity theory and Minuchin’s ideas of structural family therapy, in this article, we aim to further the understanding of identity. It puts forth a theory of identity that suggests that identity is not a single entity, but rather it is a structure formed by identity holons. The status of each identity holon (diffused, foreclosed, achieved, or moratorium) creates a boundary around the holon that influences the hierarchy of the identity. The hierarchy of the identity creates the collaborative identity. Further, we discuss the application of this theory in a therapeutic setting.