The usefulness of concepts gleaned from identification theory was explored in an analysis of questionnaires from students in urban high schools in 1966. An "identificatory sequence" consisting of identificatory process and identificatory motive, and culminating in value similarity between child and parent, was proposed. This sequence was linked, in turn, with family integration and family intact, a heuristic. In a path model having value similarity as the outcome, identificatory process emerged as the dominant variable. It was the best predictor of value similarity, and most of the effect of the family systemic variables upon value similarity was indirect, via identificatory process. This variable represents the amount of power, status, nurturance and similarity expressed by the parent in the parent-child relationship. The model accounted for as much as 26 percent of the variance in value similarity. It was concluded that the concept of "social identification" subsumes variables used in exchange, balance, and interactionist theory, and can provide the foundations for a general social theory of socialization and interpersonal influence. (Author/GC)