Freedom or Security: The Basic Human Dilemma

Fromm believed people now have greater freedom than any other era, and yet; feel more lonely, alienated, and insignificant than people did in centuries past.

Alienation from Nature
Fromm argued that people are conscious beings, free of the instinctive biological mechanisms that guide animal behavior. Although we have transcended nature, we are left with a sense of isolation and feel alienated from nature. We fill this void by identifying with tribes, share myths, and attain security within a group. This “membership” gives us acceptance, affiliation, and a custom of rules.

The middle Ages: the Last Era of Stability
Fromm described the Middle Ages as the last era of stability. The feudal system gave every person a determined place and role in life. The social upheavals of the Renaissance and the Protestant Reformation destroyed this stability. However, this gave people more control over their personal lives. This could also mean another era of people who were beset by feelings of insecurity, insignificance, and doubts about the meaning of life.

Psychic Escape Mechanisms
Fromm proposed three psychic mechanisms for escaping from the negative aspects of freedom. Authoritarianism involves some form of continuing interaction with an object or person and can be manifested in either masochistic or sadistic strivings. By contrast, destructiveness aims at eliminating that object or person. Fromm saw evidence of this destructiveness in all societies. The most socially significant escape mechanism is automaton conformity. We ease our loneliness and isolation by striving to become exactly like everyone else.