Fromm - Humanistic Psychoanalysis

Question 1

Name of Fromm’s focus?

Answer 1

Humanistic psychoanalysis

Question 2

Fromm’s foundational assumption?

Answer 2

Separation from the natural world lead to loneliness, isolation and thus basic anxiety.

Question 3

Fromm: People have been torn away from prehistoric union with nature and each other, but they have the power of what?

Answer 3

Reasoning, foresight, and imagination.

Question 4

Fromm: How does one escape feelings of loneliness, isolation, and homelessness?

Answer 4

Strive to become united with others and with nature.

Question 5

To Fromm, what causes basic anxiety?

Answer 5

Separation from the natural world (“Fromm nature”) and resulting isolation. A sense of being alone in the world.
Includes children gaining independence from mom and security.

Question 6

What’s the human dilemma, to Fromm?

Answer 6

The human condition of having ability to reason, but lacking powerful instincts needed to adapt to a changing world.

Question 7

The human dilemma forces us to solve basic _____ ______ (Fromm)

Answer 7

Existential dichotomies (life and death, self-realization vs. life too short, aloneness vs. union)

Question 8

What are the three existential dichotomies (Fromm)?

Answer 8

1. Life and death – aware of death, but postulate afterlife
2. Self-realization vs. life too short to reach the goal
3. We’re ultimately alone, but we can’t tolerate isolation.

Question 9

What are the human needs, per Fromm?

Answer 9

1. Relatedness (drive for union)
2. Transcendence
3. Rootedness
4. Sense of identity
5. Frame of orientation

Rick tried rootbeer iced oranges.

Question 10

Fromm: Only the uniquely human needs (relatedness, transcendence, rootedness, sense of identity and frame of orientation) can help with what?

Answer 10

Move people toward a reunion with the natural world.

Question 11

Fromm: What are three basic ways to gain a sense of relatedness, to unite with another person?

Answer 11

1. Submission (often forming symbiotic relationship)
2. Power
3. Love

Question 12

Describe the need for transcendence (Fromm)

Answer 12

The urge to rise above passive existence into purposefulness and freedom. One can transcend by creating life or destroying it.

Question 13

Fromm: Describe the need for rootedness.

Answer 13

The need for a consistent structure in one’s life.

Question 14

Fromm: Describe the need for sense of identity.

Answer 14

Awareness of oneself as a separate identity – a feeling of “I” or “me.”

Question 15

Fromm: Describe the need for a frame of orientation.

Answer 15

A consistent way to look at the world. A map to make sense of stimuli and events.

Question 16

Fromm: Psychologically healthy people acquire the syndrome of growth. What does this include?

Answer 16

1) Positive freedom (spontaneous activity of a whole, integrated personality)
2) Biophilia – passionate love of life
3) Love – for fellow humans

Question 17

Fromm: Humans are the only species to use ____ _____

Answer 17

Malignant aggression.

Question 18

The final human need, per Fromm, is ______. (three words)

Answer 18

Frame of orientation – a map to make one’s way through the world.

Question 19

Fromm: What is the burden of freedom?

Answer 19

As children become more independent from mothers, they also become free from security. This burden of freedom causes basic anxiety.

Question 20

Fromm: Identify the three mechanisms of escape from the burden of freedom (basic anxiety)

Answer 20

1. Authoritarianism
2. Destructiveness
3. Conformity

Question 21

Fromm: Describe the authoritarianism escape from the burden of freedom.

Answer 21

Giving up independence by fusing with someone, to acquire their strength. Takes two forms: submissive or sadistic.

Question 22

Fromm: Describe the destructiveness escape from the burden of freedom.

Answer 22

Rooted in feelings of isolation and powerlessness, this seeks to do away with other people.

Question 23

Fromm: A person’s relatively permanent way to relate to people and things is his ________ (two words)

Answer 23

Character orientation

Question 24

What’s the most important acquired quality of personality, per Fromm?

Answer 24

Character (a person’s relatively permanent way of relating to people and things)

Question 25

Fromm: Name 4 non-productive character orientations

Answer 25

1. Receptive
2. Exploitive
3. Hoarding
4. Marketing

Question 26

Fromm: Name three personality disorders associated with the syndrome of decay, according to Fromm

Answer 26

1. Necrophilia
2. Malignant narcissism
3. Incestuous symbiosis

Question 27

Fromm: Extremely sick people are motivated by the ___ ___ ___.

Answer 27

Syndrome of decay

Question 28

Fromm: The syndrome of decay includes what?

Answer 28

Necrophilia, malignant narcissism, incestuous symbiosis (tendency to remain bound to mother figure)

Question 29

Fromm: A narcissist’s distorted belief that their personal qualities give them superiority over others is _____ (2 words).

Answer 29

Neurotic claims

Question 30

Fromm: List the five human needs

Answer 30

1. Relatedness (sub/dom or love)
2. Transcendence (destructive or creative)
3. Rootedness (fixation or wholeness)
4. Sense of identity (group or individuality)
5. Frame of orientation (irrational or rational goals)

Question 31

To Fromm, what’s the goal of therapy?

Answer 31

To establish a union with patients so they can become reunited with the world. Aim is for the patient to know him/herself.

Question 32

Summarize Fromm’s Humanistic Psychoanalysis

Answer 32

• Separation from the natural world (“Fromm nature”) produces feelings of loneliness, isolation, basic anxiety
• Unite with others and nature via human needs of relatedness, transcendence, rootedness, sense of identity, and frame of orientation help reunite with natural world. (Rick tried rootbeer iced oranges).
• To relieve basic anxiety, ppl use mechanisms of escape: authoritarianism, destructiveness, conformity (Actually Destroy Crying)
• Psych. healthy ppl acquire syndrome of growth, including positive freedom (spontaneity), biophilia (love of life), and love for fellow humans.
• Non-productive ppl acquire things passively – receiving, exploiting, hoarding, marketing.
• Sick ppl have syndrome of decay - necrophilia, malignant narcissism, incestuous symbiosis.

Question 33

Fromm: Describe the authoritarianism mechanism of escape.

Answer 33

Give up independence and fuse with someone, to acquire the strength that the individual lacks.

Question 34

Fromm: Describe the destructiveness mechanism of escape.

Answer 34

Feeling isolated and powerless, one seeks to do away with other people.

Question 35

Fromm: Describe the conformity mechanism of escape.

Answer 35

Feeling alone and isolated, one gives up one’s self and becomes whatever others desire.

Question 36

Fromm: Describe the receptive character orientation.

Answer 36

Feels that all good lies outside oneself. The only way they can relates to the world is to receive things – love, knowledge, possessions.

Question 37

Fromm: Describe the exploitive character orientation.

Answer 37

Believes all source of good is outside oneself, so aggressively take what they want.

Question 38

Fromm: Describe the hoarding character orientation.

Answer 38

Seek to save that which they’ve obtained.

Question 39

Fromm: Describe the marketing character orientation.

Answer 39

See themselves as being in constant demand – they must make others believe they are skillful and salable.