The Anatomy of Human DestructivenessHow can we explain man's lust for cruelty? In a world in which violence seems to be increasing, social philosopher Erich Fromm has treated this haunting question with depth and scope in the most original and far-reaching work of his brilliant career. Fromm goes beyond the controversy between instinctivists like Lorenz, who argue that man's destructiveness has been inherited from his animal ancestors, and behaviorists like Skinner, who maintain that there are no innate human traits since everything is the result of social conditioning. Conceding that there is a kind of aggression which man shares with animals, Fromm shows that it is defensive in nature, designed to insure survival. On the other hand, malignant aggression, or destructiveness, in which man kills without biological or social purpose, is peculiarly human and not instinctive; it is one of the passions, like ambition or greed. Drawing on findings of neurophysiology, prehistory, anthropology, and animal psychology, Fromm presents a global and historical study of human destructiveness that enables readers to evaluate the data for themselves. Although deeply indebted to Freud, Fromm emphasizes social and cultural factors as well. Destructiveness is seen in terms of the dreams and associations of many patients, and of historical figures such as Stalin--an extreme example of sadism; Himmler--an example of the bureaucratic-sadistic character; and Hitler.--From publisher description. |
Contents
Instincts and Human Passions | 1 |
The Instinctivists | 13 |
Environmentalists and Behaviorists | 33 |
Copyright | |
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aggres Alois Hitler anal analysis animal australopithecines B. F. Skinner B. F. Smith become behavior believe biological biophilia boredom brain Çatal Hüyük character structure chimpanzees civilization concept considered cruelty culture death instinct defensive aggression desire destroy destructiveness discussion dominant dream drive Eros Eva Braun example excitation existence experience expression fact factors father feel fighting Freud Fromm function German hate Himmler Hitler hunters important impulses individual innate instinctivistic intense interest Italics added killing kind lack later leaders libido living Lorenz male man's manifestation Maser means mother motivated narcissism narcissistic nature necrophilia necrophilous neurophysiological observed organic passions person pleasure pleasure principle political primitive principle prisoners problem psychic psychoanalysis psychological question reaction reason repression role sadistic seems sense sion social society species Speer Stalin stimulation theory threat tion traits understanding