Eric Fromm

7/28/2019 Eric Fromm

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by: Erich Fromm


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Erich Fromm(March 23, 1900- March 18, 1980)


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BACKGROUND OF THEORY3 events that influenced Fromms theory

Family friend who committed suicide when her fatherdied- why?

WWI-why the hate?

Training with Talmudic teachers


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heavily inspired by his extensive knowledge on historyliterature, philosophy and sociology.


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Essential theme of Fromms theoryA person feels lonely and isolated because he or she

has become separated from nature and from otherpeople. This condition of isolation is not found in any

other species of animal; it is distinctive humansituation


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When humans became a distinct and separate speciesfrom the animal evolution, they lost all their animalinstincts but gained an increase in brain developmentthat permitted self-awareness, imagination, planning,and doubt (Fromm, 1992, p.5)


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Human Dilemma

Human beings have no powerful instincts to adapt to achanging world; instead they have acquired the facilityto reason


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Existential Dichotomies

1. Life and death2. Humans are capable of conceptualizing the goal of

complete self-realization, but we are aware that life istoo short to reach that goal.

3. People are ultimately alone, yet we cannot tolerateisolation.


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2 alternatives:

to escape from freedom into interpersonal

dependencies

to move to self-realization through productive love andwork


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The Burden of Freedom

Historically, as people gained more and more economicand political freedom they came to feel increasinglymore isolated results to basic anxiety- the feelingof being alone in the world


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Mechanisms of Escape

1. Authoritarianism2. Destructiveness

3. Conformity


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Authoritarianism tendency to give up ones independence and to unite

with a powerful partner

Can take in the form of masochism or sadism

Masochism- results from the basic feelings of

powerlessness, weakness, and inferiority (disguised aslove or loyalty)

Sadism- more neurotic and socially harmful


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3 sadistic tendencies:

the need to make others dependent on oneself

The compulsion to exploit others; to take advantage

The desire to see others suffer, either physically or

psychologically


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2. Destructiveness rooted in the feelings of aloneness, isolation, and

powerlessness

It seeks to do away with other people

By destroying people and objects, a person or a nation

attempts to restore feelings of power


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3.Conformity surrendering of ones individuality in order to meet the

wishes of others.

People who conform become like robots


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POSITIVE FREEDOMRepresents a successful solution to the humandilemma of being part of the natural world and yetseparate from it

spontaneous activity of the whole, integratedpersonality, and which is achieved when a person

becomes reunited with others.

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Eric Fromm