Attachment, Identity, and Intimacy: Parallels Between Bowlby's and Erikson's Paradigms

The theories of John Bowlby and Erik Erikson reveal parallels that, together, offer opportunities to examine attachment-linked working models (secure base representations) as contexts of identity formation. Although the theories are grounded in fundamentally different assumptions, each offers concepts that can enrich the application of the other. One's attachment history serves as a foundation for identity formation. We argue that identity formation is less an individual accomplishment than a co-construction of an individual with significant others. Hence, attachment histories affect not only one's approach to identity formation but also one's contributions to the identity formation of others. Our review promotes theory building that bridges Bowlby and Erikson and offers new hypotheses.