Understanding Erich Fromm's Theory of Personality

Erich Fromm was a neo-Freudian psychoanalyst who suggested a theory of personality based on two primary needs: the need for freedom and the need for belonging. He suggested that people develop certain personality styles or strategies to deal with the anxiety created by feelings of isolation.

He suggested four of these character types are unproductive orientations, while one is a productive orientation.

Basic Assumptions of Fromm's Personality Theory

Fromm believed that character is something that stems both from our genetic inheritance and from our learning experiences. Some aspects of our character are hereditary. Other aspects stem from what we learn at home, in school, and from society. And of course, there is the interplay between the these influences.

Fromm's Four Unproductive Character Orientations

Fromm believed that character is something deeply ingrained and difficult to change. However, being aware of our tendencies and being committed to change can help inspire change.

The different traits that emerge from each of the five character types have both positive and negative aspects. However, Fromm generally viewed the first four orientations as unproductive.

The Receptive Character Type

The receptive type is characterized by a need for constant support. They tend to be passive, needy, and totally dependent upon others. While they require ongoing support from family, friends, and others, they do not reciprocate it.

Receptive types also tend to lack confidence in their abilities and have difficulty making their own decisions. Fromm suggested that this character type is more likely to emerge when people grow up in overbearing and controlling households.

The Exploitative Character Type

The exploitative type is willing to lie, cheat, and manipulate others in order to get what they need. In order to fulfill their need to belong, they might seek out people who have low self-esteem or lie about loving someone they really don't care about.

According to Fromm, people with this character type take what they need either through force or deception and exploit other people to meet their own selfish needs.

The Hoarding Character Type

The hoarding type copes with insecurity by never parting with anything. They often collect a massive amount of possessions and often seem to care more about their material possessions than they do about people.

They have an unhealthy attachment to material items and feel more secure when surrounded by their many possessions. Despite accumulating large quantities of material goods, they never feel satisfied, and it always seems like something is lacking.

The Marketing Character Type

The marketing type looks at relationships in terms of what they can gain from the exchange. They might focus on marrying someone for money or social status and tend to have shallow and anxious personalities.

Fromm believed that people with this character type tend to be opportunistic and change their beliefs and values depending on what they think will get them ahead.

He also suggested that this behavior harms human freedom since people with this type seek to achieve power, wealth, and social status by using others to achieve those aims.

The Productive Character Type

The productive type is a person who takes their negative feelings and channels the energy into productive work. They focus on building loving, nurturing, and meaningful relationships with other people. This applies not only to romantic relationships, but also to other familial relationships, friendships, and social relationships.

People with a productive character type are often described as good spouses, parents, friends, co-workers, and employees.

Fromm's Theory of Fundamental Human Needs

Fromm also suggested that people possess five key fundamental needs:

• Relatedness: The first human need for relatedness refers to a desire for human connections and meaningful relationships. It is directly related to the productive orientation, which is characterized by the ability to form healthy relationships with other people and to give and receive empathy. Lack of relatedness, Fromm suggested, was a central problem that had a significant impact on mental health.
• Transcendence: This need refers to the desire to connect to things that are greater than ourselves. It can involve a sense of purpose, or it can focus on things such as nature, art, or religion. People who have a productive orientation are more likely to pursue activities that provide them with this sense of transcending and making connections with the world outside of themselves.
• Rootedness: People have a need to feel that they belong. Seeking rootedness can help people form connections and create a sense of safety and security. An unhealthy need for rootedness can lead to over-dependence and inflexibility. People who have the receptive orientation, for example, may have a stronger need for rootedness as they seek a sense of stability in their lives.
• Identity: Fromm believed that people also have a need to develop a sense of self. This can create a solid sense of identity that allows people to have healthy self-esteem and confidence, but it can also lead to problems. People with a marketing orientation, for example, may feel compelled to define themselves through their possessions. They may be heavily influenced by societal pressures and consumer culture.
• Freedom: The need for independence and autonomy is a key aspect of Fromm's theory of personality. This need can conflict with the need to belong, creating a sense of anxiety that may fuel unproductive behavior. The hoarding character orientation, for example, seeks to find freedom by accumulating material possessions, which the individual things will provide stability and a sense of control over the environment.

The character orientations Fromm described result from people's efforts to fulfill and adapt to these needs. The productive type is the healthiest, and strikes a harmonious balance. The other orientations represent less healthy ways of coping with such needs. In each case, people overemphasize one needs while neglecting others.