by: Erich Fromm

Erich Fromm

(March 23, 1900- March 18, 1980)

BACKGROUND OF THEORY
3 events that influenced Fromms theory Family friend who committed suicide when her father died- why? WWI-why the hate? Training with Talmudic teachers

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

Essential theme of Fromms theory

A person feels lonely and isolated because he or she has become separated from nature and from other people. This condition of isolation is not found in any other species of animal; it is distinctive human situation

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

Human Dilemma
Human beings have no powerful instincts to adapt to a changing world; instead they have acquired the facility to reason

Existential Dichotomies
Life and death 2. Humans are capable of conceptualizing the goal of complete self-realization, but we are aware that life is too short to reach that goal. 3. People are ultimately alone, yet we cannot tolerate isolation.
1.

2 alternatives:
to escape from freedom into interpersonal

dependencies
to move to self-realization through productive love and

work

The Burden of Freedom

Historically, as people gained more and more economic and political freedom they came to feel increasingly more isolated results to basic anxiety- the feeling of being alone in the world

Mechanisms of Escape
Authoritarianism 2. Destructiveness 3. Conformity
1.

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 as love or loyalty)

Sadism- more neurotic and socially harmful

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

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

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

wishes of others.
People who conform become like robots

POSITIVE FREEDOM
Represents a successful solution to the human dilemma of being part of the natural world and yet separate from it spontaneous activity of the whole, integrated personality, and which is achieved when a person becomes reunited with others.