Erick Fromm

ERICK FROMM (1900-1980)

                Erick Fromm was born on March 23, 1990 in Frankfurt Germany and died on March 18, 1980 in Switzerland at the age of 80.

                Today, Erick Fromm is widely regarded as one of the most important psychoanalysts of the 20^th century. He later became part of the group known as neo-Freudians which included Karen Horney and Carl Jung. He was critical of many of Freud’s ideas including the Oedipus complex, the life and death instincts and the libido theory. Erick believed that the society and culture also played a significant role in individual human development.

                Fromm believed that human beings are not generally aggressive. Destructiveness and cruelty cannot be explained in terms of heredity. The desire to destroy emerges only when life forces are frustrated. Destructiveness aggression is a propensity of character rather than an innate learned behavior.

                The major theme of Fromm’s work is the concept of loneliness. To be human is to be isolated. Loneliness represents the basic condition of human existence that separated humans from animals. He called this condition dichotomies, a two-horned problem that has no solution because none of the alternatives is entirely satisfactory. Related with this are his two popular books: Escape from Freedom and The Art  of Loving.

                Fromm also had a major influence on humanistic psychology. Life, Fromm believed, was a contradiction, since humans are both part of nature and separate from it. From this conflict arises basic existential needs including relatedness, transcendence,  rootedness, sense of identity and frame of reference.

                Relatedness refers to being in contact with people and physical nature. This is shown through our relationship with others. It emerged from our need for love, care and affection.

                Transcendence means to rise above animal existence by becoming active creators. In a simpler definition, an individual evolves into something bigger that his initial state. Best example for this is “rags to riches” scenario.

                Rootedness is to have a sense of belonging. One of the appropriate example for this naming a specific property or establishments after the owner’s name. It signifies that you own something.

                Having a sense of identity is to know what one is, a sense of “I” as distinct from others. In this way, individuals are motivated to achieve something in their lives. It can also be removing your own identity by adapting another behavior.

                Lastly, frame of reference which is to have a stable basis of perceiving the world.

                He also established five character types: the receptive type, the exploitative type, the hoarding type, the marketing type and the productive type.

                The receptive type stems from  an orientation wherein the person believes that the source of all things is outside him/herself. This trait shows passivity, lack of character, submissiveness and cowardliness. It is being open to all circumstances that might happen.

                The exploitative type has a negative behavior pattern wherein the person believes that the source of all good things is outside him/herself but does not expect to receive it, so it must be taken forcibly. This is expressed through aggression, conceit and arrogance.

             The hoarding type has the tendency to hold on to what it has. This is expressed through stinginess, possessiveness and stubbornness.

                The marketing type treats oneself as a commodity, obeying the laws of supply and demand. Traits shown are lack of principle, aimlessness and opportunism.

                The productive type values him/herself and others for what they are and experiences security and inner peace. Traits included in this type are open-mindedness, loyalty and flexibility.

                In the actual life, no individual exclusively represents one character type or orientation. It is possible to have various character types. Fromm said that no one exhibits a pure orientation however, a person may manifest one dominant character that subordinates the others.

                Erick Fromm is also the proponent of the escape mechanism, automaton conformity, authoritarianism and destructiveness.

                Escape mechanism explains that nothing happens by accident, everyone has different options to take. Individuals may have alternative plans if something happens unexpectedly.

                With automaton conformity, people in a group tend to conform or follow the behavioral patterns shown by the majority though it is contrary to one’s belief. In this scenario, a particular person is compelled to adapt to the prevailing culture may it be good or bad. This is the result of our instinctive response.

                Authoritarianism from the word itself, shows authority held by a single ruler. That leader dictates what has to be done and decides on all occasions. Examples are the “alpha male and female”. Teaching also displays authoritarianism most of the time.

                Lastly is destructiveness. Every person tends to be destructive and lose order due to some instances being unexpected.

                As an implication, Erick Fromm emphasized the vital role of the society in structuring and shaping personality, in contrast to Freud who attributed the fixation of libido in certain body zones as the basis of future character types.