5. Fromm

Humanistic Approach (to psychology emphasizes the importance of personal growth, self-actualization, and the inherent potential of individuals to achieve their fullest capabilities. )

Biography

• Childhood: Raised by neurotic parents (father moody, mother depressed).

• Cultural Background: Lived in both traditional orthodox Jewish and modern capitalist worlds.

• Influential Events:

  • Puzzling suicide of a young artistic woman, buried by her father.

  • Emotional impact of World War I leading to questions about human nature.

Early Influences

• Freudian Concepts: Deeply influenced by Freud's ideas.

• Mentorship: Mentored by Karen Horney, leading figure in psychoanalysis.

• Complex Character: Described as authoritarian, pious, shy, brilliant, and flawed.

• Roles: Psychologist, social critic, philosopher, biblical scholar, cultural anthropologist, psychobiographer.

Influences on Fromm’s Thinking

• Humanistic Rabbis: Teachings shaped his worldview.

• Karl Marx: Revolutionary spirit influenced his social theories.

• Sigmund Freud: Ideas contributed to his understanding of human psychology.

• Zen Buddhism: Rationality from this philosophy impacted his work.

• Johann Jakob Bachofen: Explored matriarchal society ideas.

Concept of Human

• Historical Evolution: Transition from animals to humans marked by:

  • Lack of instinctive behavior.

  • Presence of rational thought.

  • Tension between loneliness and freedom.

• Freedom vs. Security: Achieving freedom requires sacrificing security and belonging.

Anxiety and Isolation

• Existential Dilemmas: Humans face basic anxiety stemming from separation from nature.

• Coping Mechanisms:

  1. Escape into dependence.

  2. Pursue productive fulfillment via love and work.

Existential Dilemma

• Life vs. Death: Humans conceptualize the goal of self-realization but face time constraints.

• Isolation vs. Connection: Recognition of ultimate loneliness coupled with need for union.

Cultural Perspective

• Focus on culture's impact on individual characteristics.

• Historical context necessary for understanding personality.

Basic Assumptions

• Human Existence: Defined by specific social conditions influencing behavior and understanding of life's purpose.

Human Needs

• Relatedness: Drive for connection, accomplished through:

  1. Submission.

  2. Power.

  3. Love.

• The Art of Loving: Involves care, responsibility, respect, and knowledge.

Fromm's View on Love

• Quote: Immature love is rooted in need; mature love is about giving.

Transcendence

• Purposefulness: Urge to rise above passive existence, either through creation or destruction.

Rootedness

• Need for Stability: Establishing roots to feel at home.

• Fixation: Resistance to leaving the security of a primary attachment.

Identity

• Self-awareness: Ability to see oneself as separate.

• Attachment: Identity often tied to relationships or group affiliations.

Frame of Orientation

• Need for Understanding: Humans require a framework to navigate existence.

• Frameworks can be rational or irrational, influencing behavior.

Fromm’s Duality of Human Needs

• Negative vs. Positive Components: Explored in relation to human needs such as relatedness, transcendance, rootedness, identity, and orientation.

Healthy Individuals

• Existential Fulfillment: Individuals who reconcile their basic human needs can find meaningful existence.

Mechanisms of Escape from Freedom

• Authoritarianism: Giving up individuality for external power. (compliance over personal beliefs)

• Masochism: Self-subjugation. (receiving pain)

• Sadism: Finding power through inflicting pain on others. (inflicting pain)

Destructiveness

• Power Restoration: Born from feelings of aloneness and isolation.

• Destruction as Control: A misguided attempt to regain a sense of power.

Conformity

• Loss of Individuality: Conforming to societal norms to escape isolation.

• Automatic Behavior: Resulting in robotic responses to social expectations.

Fromm's Quotes on Conformity and Love

• Conformity: Ability to be alone fosters ability to love.

Positive Freedom

• Self-expression: Healthy individuals exhibit natural rational and emotional potentials.

Character Orientation

• Definitions:

  • Character Orientation: Permanent relational styles toward people and the world.

  • Personality: Unique inherited qualities.

  • Character: Non-instinctual striving towards relationships.

Non-Productive Orientations

• Receptive Character: Receiving love and knowledge from others.

• Exploitative Character: Aggressively taking what is desired.

• Hoarding Character: Possessiveness and rigidity.

• Marketing Character: People viewed as commodities, fueled by societal demands.

Productive Orientation

Includes:

• Work: Seen as creative self-expression.

• Loving: Involves care for others.

• Reasoning: Motivated by genuine interest in others.

Fromm's Quotes on Love and Reasoning

• Love: Commitment without guarantees and faith.

• Reasoning: Love is a decision, not merely a feeling.

Personality Disorders

• Necrophilia: Destructive personalities that hate humanity, thrive in chaos.

• Malignant Narcissism: Obsession with oneself and devaluation of others.

• Incestuous Symbiosis: Extreme dependence on maternal figures leading to loss of individuality.

Fromm’s Quote on Incestuous Symbiosis

• True Love: A union while maintaining one’s own integrity.

Psychotherapy

• Dream Analysis: Variability in dream interpretation based on individual mood.

• Therapy Dynamics: Equal acknowledgment of shared human needs between patient and therapist.

Continuum of Character Orientation

• Necrophilia to Biophilia: Character orientations range from destruction to genuine love for life.

Social-Character Investigation

• Research topics include social character and psychohistorical studies.

Criticism of Fromm’s Theories

• Theory Construction: Grand scale, difficult to falsify, lacks practical relevance.

Discussion and Reflection

• Contrast basic anxiety concepts of Horney and Fromm.

• Consider implications of Fromm’s theories in personal beliefs.