Personality Development in Childhood

Fromm believed we grow to become free and independent. However, an infant or young child has little freedom and are secure in their dependent relationships. As children attempt to become mature, they become more independent, but may feel some isolation and helplessness. Children will attempt to regain this security of infancy and escape their growing freedom. Fromm describes three forms of interpersonal relatedness between a parent and a child.

Symbiotic relatedness; A childhood mechanism for regaining security in which children remain close to and dependent on their parents.

Withdrawaldestructiveness; A childhood mechanism for regaining security in which children distance themselves from their parents.
Love; To Fromm, a form of parent–child interaction in which parents provide respect and a balance between security and responsibility.

A child’s positive personality is formed by offering respect and a balance of security and responsibility through this kind of relationship. Fromm differed with Freud on the notion a child’s personality is fixed by the end of five years of life. Later events in life can also influence personality.