Fromm’s Methods of Investigation + Related Research + Critique of Fromm + Concept of Humanity Fromm’s Methods of Investigation Fromm gathered data on human personality from many sources, including psychotherapy, cultural anthropology, and psychohistory. In this section, we look briefly at his anthropological study of life in a Mexican village and his psychobiographical analysis of Adolf Hitler. Social Character in a Mexican Village Assortment of techniques: - extensive interviews - dream reports - detailed questionnaires, and - two projective techniques—the Rorschach inkblot test and the Thematic Apperception Test. (Rorschach Inkblot Test: A projective personality test in which people must interpret ambiguous inkblots. Thematic Apperception Test (TAT): A projective personality test in which people must “tell a tale”—or create a narrative—about an ambiguous image.) Fromm believed that the marketing character was a product of modern commerce and that it is most likely to exist in societies; trade is no longer personal and where people regard themselves as commodities. Evidence for several other character types: 1. Nonproductive-receptive type – most common. Looking up to others and devoted much energy in trying to please those whom they regarded as superiors. 2. Productive- hoarding character - hardworking, productive, and independent. 3. Nonproductive-exploitative personality - men of this type were most likely to get into knife or pistol fights, whereas the women tended to be malicious gossipmongers. 4. Productive- exploitative - smaller number of inhabitants; no more than 15 individuals in the whole village. Among them were the richest and most powerful men in the village— men who had accumulated capital by taking advantage of new agricultural technology as well as a recent increase in tourism. They had also taken advantage of the nonproductive-receptive villagers by keeping them economically dependent. A Psychohistorical Study of Hitler Psychohistory or psychobiography – a technique in order to sketch a psychological portrait of a prominent person. Fromm regarded Hitler as the world’s most conspicuous example of a person with the syndrome of decay, possessing a combination of necrophilia, malignant narcissism, and incestuous symbiosis. Hitler displayed all three pathological disorders. He was attracted to death and destruction; narrowly focused on self-interests; and driven by an incestuous devotion to the Germanic “race,” being fanatically dedicated to preventing its blood from being polluted by Jews and other “non-Aryans. 1. Necrophilia - does not simply refer to behavior; it pervades a person’s entire character. 2. Malignant narcissism - Hitler was interested only in himself, his plans, and his ideology. 3. Incestuous symbiosis - manifested by his passionate devotion not to his real mother but to the Germanic “race.” 4. Sadomasochistic - withdrawn, and lacking in feelings of genuine love or compassion. Related Research Testing the Assumptions of Fromm’s Marketing Character “Buys and sells and sees everything as a potential object of consumption.” Fromm’s marketing character may not be associated so much with individualist values per se, but rather with whether hierarchy and income inequality prevail in a consumerist society. Estrangement From Culture and Well-Being According to Fromm, the material wealth created by capitalism has created so much freedom that quite frankly we do not know what to do with ourselves. The modern society in which we live provides us with innumerable conveniences and benefits. But those conveniences do come at a cost. Authoritarianism and Fear The central idea behind Escape from Freedom is that people are attracted to absolute answers and certainty, even if it means authoritarian dictators, when they are afraid and uncertain. Social differences and social disorder were disproportionately feared over other fears by those who scored high on authoritarianism. Critique of Fromm Fromm tended to take a global approach to theory construction, erecting a grand, highly abstract model that was more philosophical than scientific. First, Fromm’s relatively imprecise and vague terms have rendered his ideas difficult to operationalize, and therefore somewhat immune to being generators of research. Fromm’s theory is too philosophical to be either falsifiable or verifiable. The breadth of Fromm’s theory enables it to organize and explain much of what is known about human personality. As a guide to action, the chief value of Fromm’s writings is to stimulate readers to think productively. Fromm’s views are internally consistent in the sense that a single theme runs throughout his writings. Fromm was reluctant to abandon earlier concepts or to relate them precisely to his later ideas, his theory lacks simplicity and unity Concept of Humanity Fromm was both pessimistic and optimistic. (On one hand, he believed that most people do not accomplish a reunion with nature or other people and that few people achieve positive freedom. He also had a rather negative attitude toward modern capitalism, which he insisted was responsible for most people’s feeling isolated and alone while clinging desperately to the illusion of independence and freedom. On the other hand, Fromm was hopeful enough to believe that some people will achieve reunion and will therefore realize their human potential. He also believed that humans can achieve a sense of identity, positive freedom, and growing individuality within the confines of a capitalistic society.) On the dimension of free choice versus determinism, Fromm took a middle position. On the dimension of causality versus teleology, Fromm tended to slightly favor teleology. Fromm took a middle stance regarding conscious versus unconscious motivation, placing slightly more emphasis on conscious motivation and contending that one of the uniquely human traits is self-awareness. On the issue of social influences versus biological ones, Fromm placed somewhat more importance on the impact of history, culture, and society than on biology. Finally, whereas Fromm placed moderate emphasis on similarities among people, he also allowed room for some individuality.
