Some thoughts about the psychodynamic theory of personality. /part 12/

Erich From / 1900-1980 / encyclopedist, sociologist. In his theory of personality, he recognizes man's biological trap, but emphasizes his social nature. The main theme includes human loneliness. From the analysis begins with a study of the conditions of man's existence and their changes to the Middle Ages / 15th century / to the present. He comes to the conclusion that there is a trait of human existence in the 20th century - solitude accompanied by isolation and alienation.

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He is convinced that for every historical period there is a characteristic progressive development of individuality, depending on how he struggles to achieve greater personal freedom. For the majority of people who have achieved autonomy and freedom of choice, especially in the 20th century, a high price has been paid - a loss of sense of security and a sense of personal significance. Today the dilemma is in place - freedom from different constraints requires compensation in terms of security and belonging to others. For From this gap between freedom and security is the cause of the great difficulties of human existence: people struggle for freedom and autonomy, but they themselves create a sense of alienation, they need to have power over their lives and a right of choice, but At the same time they want to feel themselves connected to others. This is a conflict whose resolution depends on the economic and political systems of societies.

And so does an analysis of the industrial society and its psychological theory. He calls part of it "Existential Psychoanalysis". It reveals the two-way connection between an individual and a person's place in the industrial society. The primary goal of 20th century society is economic growth at all costs. Therefore, the individual person is not supported in his unique expression, but is a means of achieving economic goals. This attitude is an extreme limitation for the individual and in him there is a sense of helplessness and hopelessness. Most people choose to merge with the mass and have automatic conformism behavior - they are subject to group behavior although they disagree with the norms and requirements. The feeling of helplessness raises the model of "escape". There are two basic needs: from embedding and personal uniqueness other than that of others. This leads to a contradiction - the satisfaction of the first hinders the satisfaction of the other.