Social needs of a person depending on the type of character according to the Fromm theory

Erich Fromm, being a sociologist and philosopher by education, considered human needs on the plane of economic and political conditions. An outstanding psychologist argued that the formation of personality is affected by the satisfaction of spiritual needs, often regulated by society.

Fromm and Freud both held the same view that the character does not change with age.

A person can be endowed with productive or unproductive traits that are manifested in relation to the society.

In the second group of types of character (unproductive or unhealthy), Fromm singled out a receptive, exploiting, accumulating and market personality.

Social needs of a person with a receptive type of character

The receptive type is characterized by the belief that the positive must come from the outside world to them, and not vice versa. The person fulfills a passive social role, demanding attention and concern from others. Man constantly feels the need for outside help, in love, answering with sentimentality and trustfulness. Recipitive personalities are often idealists and optimists.

The social needs of a person with an exploiting type of character

The exploiting type is peculiar to conquer and rule. On the way to achieve their needs, people manifest aggression, achieve their own strength or cunning. They like the process of seduction, they value their own achievements. What belongs to others, beckons them with irresistible force.

Social needs of a person with a cumulative type of character

The personality of the money-grubbing type chronically all his life feels the need for savings, even without good reason for that. A systematic desire to accumulate material values and benefits is manifested by pathological stinginess. Emotional poverty is combined with a thirst for someone's love, which can not become mutual by definition. The fanatical need for personal accuracy is often transformed into frank pedantry.

Social needs of a person with a market type of character

Fromm emphasized that the market type of character is characteristic of the whole modern society. A person consciously or subconsciously feels a constant need to establish a balance between price and demand. Every member of society enjoys the same categories of values in both business and personal relationships. Thus, for a market type of character it is important to submit oneself in society as an expensive commodity (service). Abilities and talent lose the importance of individuality, become the subject of exchange between the customer and the performer.

The social needs of a person with a productive type of character

Fromm's humanistic theory prepares mankind for the conclusion that a productive type of character reveals the meaning of human development. In his works the psychologist linked the concept of fruitfulness with the need for creativity, a social active position, activity and mutual love. In Fromm's opinion, over time, a productive type of character will become dominant in society.

Social needs are needs, the replenishment of which depends on topical priorities cultivated by society at this stage of its development. No person corresponds to a certain type of character in an absolutely pure form. Nevertheless, the productive personality, according to Fromm, has the ideal mental health. Therefore, the conditions in the society must be built in such a way that people can meet the need for social activity, in activity and in love of the inter-human. On this depends the psychological health of the individual, his family, nation and country.

Fromm interpreted his humanistic psychoanalysis as a way to save mankind from loneliness, alienation and isolation. Fromanistic theory Fromm has a number of opponents.