Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsBasic Assumptions of Fromm’s Personality TheoryFromm’s Four Unproductive Character OrientationsThe Productive Character TypeFromm’s Theory of Fundamental Human Needs

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Basic Assumptions of Fromm’s Personality Theory

Fromm’s Four Unproductive Character Orientations

The Productive Character Type

Fromm’s Theory of Fundamental Human Needs

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

At a GlanceErich Fromm proposed a theory of personality that emphasized fundamental human needs as well as the vital role that social and cultural factors have in shaping personality. His ideas about the search for meaning and the need for belonging continue to shape contemporary conversations about these topics.

At a Glance

Erich Fromm proposed a theory of personality that emphasized fundamental human needs as well as the vital role that social and cultural factors have in shaping personality. His ideas about the search for meaning and the need for belonging continue to shape contemporary conversations about these topics.

Fromm believed that character is something that stems both from our genetic inheritance and from our learning experiences. Some aspects ofour characterare 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.

How Personality Traits Are Developed

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.

Fromm also believed that people could exhibit thecharacteristicsof more than one type and that personalities can be made up of a combination of different orientations.

The Receptive Character Type

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.

Why Self-Esteem Is Important for Success

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

Understanding Hoarding Disorder

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.

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 also suggested that people possess five key fundamental needs:

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.

What Is the Need to Belong?

3 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Fromm E.Man for Himself: an Inquiry into the Psychology of Ethics. Open Road Media; 2013.Carveth DL.Beyond nature and culture: Fromm’s Existentialism.Psychoanal Rev. 2017;104(4):485-501. doi:10.1521/prev.2017.104.4.485Cortina M.Is Fromm relevant for relational approaches in psychoanalysis?Psychoanal Rev. 2017;104(4):437-450. doi:10.1521/prev.2017.104.4.437

3 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Fromm E.Man for Himself: an Inquiry into the Psychology of Ethics. Open Road Media; 2013.Carveth DL.Beyond nature and culture: Fromm’s Existentialism.Psychoanal Rev. 2017;104(4):485-501. doi:10.1521/prev.2017.104.4.485Cortina M.Is Fromm relevant for relational approaches in psychoanalysis?Psychoanal Rev. 2017;104(4):437-450. doi:10.1521/prev.2017.104.4.437

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Fromm E.Man for Himself: an Inquiry into the Psychology of Ethics. Open Road Media; 2013.Carveth DL.Beyond nature and culture: Fromm’s Existentialism.Psychoanal Rev. 2017;104(4):485-501. doi:10.1521/prev.2017.104.4.485Cortina M.Is Fromm relevant for relational approaches in psychoanalysis?Psychoanal Rev. 2017;104(4):437-450. doi:10.1521/prev.2017.104.4.437

Fromm E.Man for Himself: an Inquiry into the Psychology of Ethics. Open Road Media; 2013.

Carveth DL.Beyond nature and culture: Fromm’s Existentialism.Psychoanal Rev. 2017;104(4):485-501. doi:10.1521/prev.2017.104.4.485

Cortina M.Is Fromm relevant for relational approaches in psychoanalysis?Psychoanal Rev. 2017;104(4):437-450. doi:10.1521/prev.2017.104.4.437

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