Erich Fromm

According Fromm, there is a connection between social character and the economic basis of that society. To explain this connection, Fromm uses psychoanalysis techniques to bridge the gap. Using Freud’s dynamic concept of character, Fromm identifies that society acts in a majority type way, meaning that a society usually acts in one type of character type way that drives their motivations.
Fromm identifies that social character is that which is shared by most members in a society. In reflecting upon the examples Fromm uses to explain social character, such as how in modern industrial society man must be eager and ready to work or how in nineteenth century capitalism man needed to value the necessity of saving; along with reflecting upon where I see social character at work in today’s society, I believe that Fromm made an excellent attempt to fill in the gap between superstructure and economics as he proposed in the beginning of his reading. Of course, as Fromm also pointed out, there are minute differences in the social character, but looking from a macro-view of society; we generally do operate in the same characteristic traits. Our society today values knowledge and education; if we did not all operate with the value of these things we would not have such a large emphasis on education as we do in our society. Instead, you would have those who went along believing in education and those who rebel against this ideal and do not give into the necessity of education. In fact, it is illegal up unto a certain point, to receive education; those children who do rebel against the system of education being ladled as treason. You will of course have the minute differences maybe due to motivational factors such as those who value education more or less show by those who continuously further their education or those who just do the bare minimum required, but overall society sees the necessity for education. It is the same concept with the nineteenth century society’s value