ERICH SELIGMANN FROMM THEORIES (1900-1980)

Erich Seligmann Fromm (1900–1980) was a German-American social psychologist, psychoanalyst, sociologist, humanistic philosopher, and democratic socialist. Born in Frankfurt, Germany, he fled the Nazi regime and settled in the United States. Fromm was associated with the Frankfurt School of critical theory and co-founded The William Alanson White Institute of Psychiatry, Psychoanalysis, and Psychology in New York City1.

His notable ideas include:

Being and Having: Fromm explored these as modes of existence. “Being” emphasizes personal fulfillment and authentic connections, while “Having” focuses on material possessions.
Security vs. Freedom: He examined the tension between our need for security and our desire for freedom.
Social Character: Fromm believed that our character evolves in response to societal norms and values.
Humanism: He emphasized human potential, creativity, and self-awareness.
Fromm’s work remains influential, especially in discussions about love, culture, and mental health. For a deeper dive, consider reading his books, such as “The Art of Loving” and “Escape from Freedom” 23. If you’re interested in a comprehensive biography, “The Lives of Erich Fromm” provides insights into his personal, clinical, and political aspects 4. Erich Fromm (1900–1980) was a German-American psychoanalyst associated with the Frankfurt School. His theories emphasized culture’s role in developing personality and aimed to reduce mental illness through psychoanalysis. Here are some key aspects:

Social Character: Fromm related psychoanalytic theory to socio-economic factors. He explored how societal norms shape individual character.
Revision of Freud: Unlike Freud, Fromm emphasized aggression and destructiveness. He believed character wasn’t fixed but evolved to meet human needs.
Universal Human Needs: Fromm outlined five essential needs: relatedness, rootedness, transcendence, identity, and orientation. Their absence could lead to problems like alienation.
Freedom and Belonging: Fromm’s theory focused on two primary needs: freedom and belonging. People develop personality styles to cope with anxiety from isolation. Erich Fromm’s theories, while influential, have faced criticism. Notably:

Limited Critique of Social Norms: Fromm criticized Freud for focusing primarily on sexuality when analyzing social norms. He believed this limited Freud’s ability to fully explore the implications of his discoveries 1.
Superficiality: Noam Chomsky appreciated Fromm’s attitudes but found his work somewhat superficial. Herbert Marcuse, in “Eros and Civilization,” condemned Fromm for transitioning from a radical theorist to conformity 2.

1. GROUP FIVE MEMBERS ROKTOK-LEADER OWEN IVY KIBET ABDI MACHARIA JOY LINNET ANTON TAMLEKHA BRENDA MARY REGINA KELLY MUIRURI

2. ERICH FROMM B orn in F rankfurt and raised in Judaism religion but later covert to an atheist. L ived around the time of F reud and also knew him. F romm shares with A dler and Horny a basic disagreement with sigmoid F reud. H e involved Karen H orney in his theory and there is some influence on his theory that is similar to Karen harness theory.

3. FREEDOM OR SECURITY The basic human dilemma Freedom vs isolation; As human societies develop, humans have achieved greater freedom but have become more lonely and isolated than in the past. Would you either choose freedom or security? Alienation from nature: because of imagination, intelligence ,learning we have transcended(gone beyond) nature and hence feel homeless, isolated.

4. The basic human dilemma Early people coped with these feelings by identifying with their tribes and clans. Attained belonging, acceptance, security through conforming to customs and rules e.g.. Singing in certain way and telling stories. Re-established links with nature by worshipping natural objects e.g. moon, sun and animals Each generation has moved further from the group and towards increased individuality, independence and freedom. The middle ages – the last area of stability. Feudal system –provide no individual freedom i.e.. Some people were born into nobility while others as peasants.

5. The basic human dilemma The renaissance(scientific advancements) and reformation Destroyed stability and security by increasing personal freedom. Social ties that provide a sense of belonging, security were disrupted. Results were feelings of insecurity, insignificance, doubts about the meaning of life.

6. Psychic escape mechanics 3 ways to escape negative aspects of increased freedom: Authoritarianism: 2 forms; Masochistic-beliefs are inferior, have strong need for dependence on another person/group; willingly submit to control of others or social forces to ease loneliness Sadistic- Strive for power over others dependent, control, exploit others; want to cause pain and emotional suffering

7. Ways to escape negative aspects of increasing freedom Destructiveness : desire to eliminate threatening persons or objects; escape feelings of own powerlessness in the world by destroying it. -Rationalization used: love, duty, conscience and patriotism. Automaton : ease loneliness by becoming exactly like somebody else, by conforming to societal rules. -Temporary security gained; no separate “I” or sense of self leads to insecurity and doubts.

8. Personality development in childhood Development of individuals parallels development of human species. Infants are initially secure and dependent on parents Become more independent but less secure as they get older eg likely to fall, being hit or kidnapped. They try to regain security by using mechanisms similar to authoritarianism, destructiveness, automaton. Nature of (mother)parent-child relationship determines mechanism child employs.

9. 3 forms of relatedness between parent and child Symbiotic- children remain close to and dependent on parents -escape loneliness by part of someone else, by “swallowing “ or being “swallowed” becoming -Masochistic being “swallowed "child remains dependent and denies the self and follows parents views -Sadism(“swallowing “) parents surrender and submit to child. Withdrawal- destructiveness attempt to regain security by separating from parents -Parents who act destructively(subordinate and subjugate the child) will cause child to withdraw. Love- parents provide child with respect and a balance between security and responsibility -Child has little need to escape growing freedom, learns how to love self and others.

10. Basic psychologic needs Conflict between security and freedom creates 6 basic human needs: Relatedness- need to have contact with people and form relationships that arises because of our separation from nature -ideally through: productive love, caring, responsibility, respect, knowledge(gaining and providing) -sister/brotherly love- love toward someone of same sex i.e.. Siblings and friends -erotic love: love toward one of opposite sex -Parental love: love towards child

11. CONTINUATION Transcendence: need to rise above passive animal state -we need to be creative and productive through children, objects and ideas. Rootedness: need to establish new roots with family, community and society Identity: Awareness of own unique abilities and characteristics. -we can develop our unique talents and identify with a group(conformity less healthy) Frame of orientation and object of devotion: Objective view of reality and object to which are devoted(provides direction and meaning) Excitation and stimulation: need stimulating environment to function at our best

12. BASIC PERSONALITY TYPES Productive and non-productive(unhealthy) character types underlie human behaviour. Receptive- dependent on others, except to receive things from others but don’t give e.g.. Need love but don’t give love -Similar to Freud's oral incorporative and Horney’s compliant type Exploitative: Take what they want from others through force or cunning e.g. people who aren’t attracted to someone who is available but are attracted to a married one or someone in a relationship. -Doesn’t value something if freely given; values that which others own and want that must be stolen. Hoarding: Derive security from amassing possessions and personal feelings (emotions, thoughts) e.g.. politicians embezzling funds to secure their generations

13. CONT… -Build walls to protect their possessions. -Orderliness about their possessions, thoughts, feelings. -Similar to Freud's anal retentive type. Marketing: values superficial qualities believe personality is a commodity to be sold e.g.. A salesman of a certain product. -Success depends on how well sell oneself. - S miling, laughing at boss’ jokes more important than real inner qualities and abilities. -No security or genuine relations true, self hidden from self to others.

14. CONT… Productive: uses all capabilities to realize potential potential and develop oneself(has not been achieved) -not restricted to artistic, creative and possessions is also an attitude -can transform aggressive and exploitative types into initiative and hoarding into economic effectiveness Necrophilous: attracted to inanimate object and things associated with death(corpses, decay, faeces) -devoted to law and order, use force and power e.g. Adolf Hitler -dream about murder, blood, skulls e.g. horror movies fans. -love of machine surrounding them and technology

15. CONT Having: define self, life according to what he or she has -competitive: compare self to others, want to surpass -become antagonistic, alienated from others. PRODUCTIVE ORIENTATIONS ORIENTATION DESCRIPTION Overcome alienation From argue that modern society causes alienation from one’s genuine talents and passions. Achieve Self-awareness and responsibility Productive individual s have full self-awareness about their nature. Practice Reason and judgement Rather than conforming to irrational social forces, the productively oriented demonstrate objective reasoning about truth ad exercise judgement over their actions. THE END