ERICH FROMM (1900-1980)

Natalie Curran

Regina Munoz

Kim Ocana

I. BIOGRAPHY born in Frankfurt, Germany, 1900

only child of orthodox Jewish parents

studied law but eventually changed his field of study to sociology at University of Heidelberg

 Ph.D. in sociology at age 22

joined the Frankfurt Institute for Social Research, later known as the Frankfurt School of Critical Theory

After completing his training at the Berlin Psychoanalytic Institute, he and Frieda Fromm-Reichmann helped to found the Frankfurt Psychoanalytic Institute

1933, fled from Nazis and went to the United States

I. BIOGRAPHY

1949, he became a professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, where he instituted the department of psychoanalysis. 

Founder and director of the Mexican Psychoanalytic Institute

1974, Fromm moved to Switzerland, where he died in 1980.

I. BIOGRAPHY

Contribution to Psychology:

humanistic philosopher, personality theorist and social psychologist

retained a strong interest in the role of social factors in determining personality development

 influenced the field of psychology through his many books, theories, and institutions

Escape from Freedom, in 1941, which had a significant psychological, political, and social tone

His theories on human character were embodied in this and his second book, Man for Himself, and were expounded upon in his most popular publication, The Art of Loving

I. BIOGRAPHY (BOOKS BY FROMM) Escape from Freedom (1941) Man for Himself (1947) The Art of Loving (1956) Sigmund Freud's Mission; an Analysis of his Personality and

Influence (1959) Zen Buddhism and Psychoanalysis (1960) May Man Prevail? An Inquiry into the Facts and Fictions of Foreign

Policy (1961) Marx's Concept of Man (1961) Beyond the Chains of Illusion: My Encounter with Marx and Freud (1962) Socialist Humanism (1965) The Nature of Man (1968) The Crisis of Psychoanalysis (1970) The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness (1973) To Have or to Be? (1976) Greatness and Limitation of Freud's Thought (1979) The Art of Being (1993) The Art of Listening (1994) On Being Human (1997)

II. THEORIES

A basic theme in Fromm's thought: We feel lonely and isolated because we have become separated from nature and from other human beings.

“If I am what I have and if I lose what I have who then am I?”

II. THEORIES

"Man is the end, and must never be used as a means; material production is for man, not man for material production; the aim of life is the unfolding of man's creative powers; the aim of history is a transformation of society into one governed by justice and truth---these are the principles on which, explicitly and implicitly, all criticism of modern Capitalism was based.”

II. THEORIES

The being and having modes

Two modes are competing for the spirit of humanity

The having mode relies on the possessions that a person has. It is the source of the lust for power and leads to isolation and fear.

The being mode, which depends solely on the fact of existence, is the source of productive love and activity and leads to solidarity and joy. Responding spontaneously and productively and having the courage to let go in order to give birth to new ideas.

II. THEORIES

The being and having modes

Fromm points out that both Jesus and Buddha taught that we should not crave possessions. He quotes Jesus, "For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?" Our real goal should be to be much rather than to have much.

II.THEORIES

FREEDOM IN MEDIEVAL AND MODERN SOCIETY (reference: Escape from Freedom,1941.)

"What characterizes medieval society...is its lack of individual freedom. Everyone is chained to his role in the social order. Had to stay where born. Personal, economic, and social life are dominated by rules and obligations. But although the person was not free, neither was he alone and isolated. Was rooted in a socialized whole. Life had a meaning which left no place for doubt. A person was identical with his role.”

II. THEORIES

FREEDOM IN MEDIEVAL AND MODERN SOCIETY

Roles. Today we like to say we're a person first, and the role comes second.

In the old day's one's place was given. For example in medieval times, the knight and peasant have their roles.

By contrast, in modern society we're not sure what our role is. In a sense, freedom is scary. We are isolated, alone, and afraid.

II. THEORIES

FREEDOM IN MEDIEVAL AND MODERN SOCIETY

Capitalism and freedom. Capitalism contributed to the growth of freedom, to a critical, responsible self. It also made people more alone. Put the individual entirely on his own feet. Furthered the process of individualization.

The more man gains freedom, the more he becomes an individual.

II. THEORIES

FREEDOM IN MEDIEVAL AND MODERN SOCIETY

Escape from making choices. Much of Fromm's work had to do with how a person tries to escape from having to choose. We try to get the other person, or the institution, to take action for us. But this alienates us from our own power and responsiveness.

II. THEORIES

Escape Mechanisms:

1. Authoritarianism -  the tendency to give up one’s independence and to unite with a powerful partner.

2. Destructiveness -  escape mechanism aimed at doing away with other people or things.

3. Automaton Conformity - surrendering of one’s individuality in order to meet the wishes of others.

II. THEORIES

Authoritarianism the tendency to give up one’s independence and to unite with a powerful partner.Submission or dominationIn masochistic form, we allow others to dominate us. In sadistic form, we try to dominate and control the behavior of others. belief that one's life is determined by forces outside oneself, one's interests, or one's wishes, and the only way to be happy is to submit to those forces

II. THEORIES

Destructiveness

escape mechanism aimed at doing away with other people or things.

"The destruction of the world is the last, almost desperate attempts to save myself from being crushed by it."

Destructiveness is often rationalized as love, duty, conscience, or patriotism.

II. THEORIES

Automaton Conformity

surrendering of one’s individuality in order to meet the wishes of others.

People cease to be themselves and adopt the type of personality proffered by their culture.

II. THEORIES

6 Character Orientations (reference: Man for Himself, 1947)

1. Receptive

2. Exploitative

3. Hoarding

4. Marketing

5. Productive

6. Necrophilous

II. THEORIES6 Character Orientations:

1. Receptive - only way to obtain something they want is to receive it from an outside source; they react passively, waiting to be loved.

2. Exploitative – Take things they want by force or cunning; they expoit others for their own ends.

3. Hoarding – these personalites hoard and save what they already have; they surround themselves with a wall and are miserly in their relations to others.

4. Marketing – experience themselves in commodities on th market; they may be described as opportunistic chameleons, changing their colors and values as they perceive the forces of the market to change.

5. Productive – value themselves and others for who they are; they relate to the world by accurately perceiving it and by enriching it through their own creative powers.

6. Necrophilous - This kind of person stands alone from the others in that he, instead of attempting to find a solution to life, seeks to destroy it. These people are often fascinated by death, and find war and destruction as not necessary, but desirable.

II. THEORIES- RECEPTIVE (ACCEPTING)

accepting responsive devoted charming adaptable polite optimistic trusting

passive opinionless submissive parasitical unprincipled spineless wishful thinking gullible

POSITIVE ASPECT NEGATIVE ASPECT

II. THEORIES- EXPLOITATIVE (TAKING)

active takes the initiative makes claims (and

hears those of others)

proud self-confident impulsive captivating

exploitive aggressive Egocentric Conceited Arrogant rash seducing

POSITIVE ASPECT NEGATIVE ASPECT

II. THEORIES- HOARDING (PRESERVING)

practical economical careful reserved patient cautious steadfast, tenacious methodical loyal

unimaginative stingy suspicious cold lethargic anxious stubborn obsessive possessive

POSITIVE ASPECT NEGATIVE ASPECT

II: THEORIES- MARKETING (EXCHANGING)

purposeful able to change youthful Open-minded experimenting efficient curious adaptable tolerant generous

opportunistic inconsistent childish unprincipled aimless overactive tactless undiscriminating indifferent wasteful

POSITIVE ASPECT NEGATIVE ASPECT

II. THEORIES

The basic human needs:

1. Transcendence Relating to other people and loving productively

2. Sense of identity Becoming aware of ourselves as separate and unique individuals

3. Rootedness Feeling that we belong

4. Frame of orientation Having a stable and consistent frame of reference to organize perceptions and make sense or our environment

5. Unity A sense of oneness between one person and the "natural and human world outside."

6. Excitation and stimulation Actively striving for a goal rather than simply responding

7. Effectiveness The need to feel accomplished

8. Relatedness Relating to other people and loving productively

III. ASSESSMENT AND RESEARCH

IV. REPORTER‘S CRITIQUE

SOURCES: http://dean.roushimsx.com/fromm.htm

http://www.drrogerwalsh.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/Theories-of-Personality-Psychopathology-Fromm-Allport-Murray-goldstein-Maslow-Murphy-Lewin-Gestalt-Lacan-Cattell-Skinner-Ken-Wilber.pdf

http://psychology.about.com/od/profilesal/p/erich-fromm.htm

http://www.logosjournal.com/issue_6.3/funk.htm

http://www.goodtherapy.org/famous-psychologists/erich-fromm.html

Theories of Personality (Xerox from Sir‘s Book)

Love is union with someone or something while retaining the separateness and integrity of one's own self

If I can love only one person and no one else, if my love for this person alienates and distances me from others, this is not love in its full flowering.