The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness

534 Pages·2012·6.96 MB·English

by  Erich Fromm

ERICH
FROMM
THEANATOMY
OFHUMAN
DESIRUOiVEN ESS
How canw e explaimna n'sl usft orc ruelty?
Ina worldi nw hichv iolenicnee verfyo rm
seemst ob e increasiEnrgi,c Fhr omm-thea u­
thoro f numerousb est-selbloinogk s-has
treattehdi hsa untinqgu estiwoint hd eptha nd
scopei n them osto riginaanld far-reaching
worko fh isb rillicaanrte er.
Frommg oesb eyontdh ep resebnatt tllei nes
of controverbseyt weeinn stinctilviikset s
Lorenzw,h o arguet hatm an'sd estructiveness
hasb eeni nheritferdo mh isa nimaaln cestors,
and behaviorilsitkseS kinnewrh,o maintain
thatt heraer en o innatheu man traistisn ce
everythiinstg h er esulotfs ocicaoln ditioning.
Concedintgh att heries a kindo fa ggression
whichm an sharewsi tha nimalFsr,o mms hows
thaitt i sd efensiivnne a turdee,s ignteodi nsure
survivOanl .t heo thehra ndm,a lignaangtg res­
siono,r destructiveinne swsh,i cmha n kills
withoubti ologiocras lo ciaplu rposies,p ecu­
liarhluym ana ndn oti nstinctiitiv sep ;a rto f
humanc haractoenreo, f t hep assiolnisk,le o ve,
ambitioann,dg reed.
Fromt hitsh eoretpiocsailt iForno mms tudies
botht hec ondititohnaset l icdietf ensiavgeg res­
siona ndt hosteh atc ausgee nuindee structive­
nessD.r awinogn them osts ignificfianndti ngs
ofn europhysiolporgeyh,i stoarnyt,h ropology,
and animalp sycholohgey ,p resenat sg lobal
andh istorisctauld oyf h umand estructiveness
thate nablerse adertsoe valuatthee d ataf or
themselves.
Althougdhe epliyn debtteodF reudF,r omm
emp hasizseosc ial caunldt urfaalc toarssw ell.
Destructiviesnse esesni nt ermosf t hed reams
anda ssociatoifom nasn yp atienatnsd o fh istor­
icafilg uressu cha sS talin-eaxnt remeex ample
(CONTIONNUB EADCF KL AP)
1173
ALSO BY ERICH FROMM
EscafporemF reedom
Manf oHri mlsfAe:nI nquiinrttyoh P es ychoolfEo tghyi cs
PsychoaannadRl eylsiigsi on
The ForLgaontgtueAanng I en:ot dructtioto hnUe n derstanding
ofD reaFmasi,Tr ayl easn,dM yths
TheS anSeo ciety
TheA rotf L oving
SigmuFnrde uMdi'sss ion
ZenB uddhainsPdms ychoa(nwailDty.hs S iT.us z aunkRdi. d eM artino)
MarxC'osn ceopfMt a n
TheD ogmoafC hriansOdtt heEsrs aoynRs e ligion,
PsychoalnoCdgu yl ture
TheH eaorftM an
BeyotnhdCe h aionfIs l lusion
MayM anP revail
TheN atuorfMe a n( wiRtahm oXni mu)
TheR evoluotfHi oopne
HumanSioscti a(le)id s.m
YouS haBlel Gaosd :s RAa diIctnaelr pretation
oft hOel Tde stamaenndIt t s Tradition
SocCihaalr aicnat M eerx icVainl l(aiwgtMehi chMaaecolcb y)
TheC riosfiP ss ychaoliaysnsE:s saoynFs r eud, anMSdao rcxPi,sa ylc hology
TheA natomy
ofH uman
Destructiveness
EricFhr omm
HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON
New YorkC hicagSoa nF rancisco
Gratefauclk nowledgmiesnm ta det ot hef ollowifnogrp ermissitooqn u otfer omt he
publicatiloinsst ed:
DaedalJuosu.rn alo ft heA mericaAnc ademyo fA rtsa ndS ciencferso.m " TheD esign
ofCulLurebsy.B ". F .S kinneSru,m mer1 961i,ss uoen "EvolutiaonndM an'sP rogress."
Copyrigh©t 1 96b1y J ournalo ft heA mericaAnc ademyo fA rtsan dS ciences.F arrar.
Strauasn dG irouxI,n c.f,r omM mineltSie:l ecWtreidt inegdsi.t eadn dw itha nI ntroduction
byR .W . FlinCto.p yrigh©t 1 971b yF arraSrt,r auasn,d G irouxI,n c. HarcourBtr ace
JovanoviIcnhc,.f .r omO nA ggressbiyoK no.n radL orenz©. 1963b yG .B orotha-Schoeler
Verla©g; 1 96b6y K onradL orenza;n dl IIyotfth h Mea chinbey.L ewiMsu mford©. 1967
byH arcouBrrta ceJovanovicHho.o veIrn stituPtrieosnfs r.o mH einrifcfhl mm/AI X'1'a:z i
int heM aking1.9 00-19b2y6 B.ra dleFy. S mithC.o pyrigh©t 1971b y theB oardo f
Trusteoefst heL elanSdt anfoJrudn ioUrn iversiatnydA; d olfH itleHr,:sF amilCyh.i ldhood
andY outbhy.B radleFy.S mitCho. pyrigh©t 1 967 byt heB oardo fT rusteoefst heL eland
StanfoJrudn ioUrn iversityH.o ughtoMni fflCion .• fromI nt hSeh adoowfM an.b yJ .V an
Lawick-Goodall. Co©p y1r9i7g0bh ytH oughtoMni AliCno . JOllmoaflA bnomwPlsy ­
cilg%),.f rom" BehavioSrtauld yo fO bedienceL,X"V I(II 9 63)p.p .3 71-378b.y S.M il­
gramC.o pyrigh©t 1963b y theA mericaPns ychologAiscsaolc iationM.c Graw-Hill
BookC o ..I nc.f.r omC ataHlu yukA: X eolitThoiwcni nA natolbiyJa a.m esM ellaaCrotp.y right
© 1967b y Thamesa ndH udson.L td. MacmillaPnu blishCion g. .I nc.f.r omT he
III/ormed Hearbty.B runo BeulehCeoipmy.r igh©t 9160 byT heF reeP resasC .o rporation;
andI nsitdheTe hirRde icbhy.A lberStp eeCro.p yrigh©t 1 970b yM acmillPaunb lishCion .g.
Inc. Prentice-IHnacl.lf..r omT heH llntebrysE .l manR .S erviCcoep.y righ©t 1 96b6y
Prentice-IHnacl.l .P rincetUonni versPirteys fsr.o mM yth. Relaingdti hoMeno .t heRri ght:
SelectWerdi tinogfsJ ohannJ akobB achofeend..J .C ampbellt;r ansR.a lphM anheim.
BollingSeenr ieLsX XXIVC.o pyrigh©t 1967b yB ollingFeonu ndation.B asiBco oks.
Inc.f.r omC hapte2r5 ." WhyW ar?"i nC ollecPtaepde orsfS igmunFdr euVdo.l 5.. e ditebdy
JamesS trachepyu.bl ished by Basic Bboyoa krsr.a ngInecm.ew.ni tt Thh eH ogartPhr ess.
Ltd.• The InstitouftP es ycho-AnalaynsdiS si.g mundF reuCdo pyrighLttsd . W. W.
Norto&nC o ..I nc.f.r omC ivilizaantdIi toDsni scontaenndtT sh eE goa ndt h[ed i.n T heS tandard
Editioofnt heC omplePtsey choloWgoirckaoslf S igmunFdr eudr.e viseadn de ditcbdy J ames
StrachePyu.b lishbeydW . W. Norto&nC o .• Incb.y a rrangemewnitt Thh eH ogartPhr ess
Ltd. .t heI nstitouftP es ycho-AnalaynsdiS si.g mundF reuCdo pyrighLttsd . Liveright.
fromB eyontdh eP leasPunr·en ciipnlT eh.e S tandaErddi tiooftn h eC omplePtsey choloWgoirckasl
ofS igmunFdr elrledv.i saendd e ditebdyJ amesS trachePyu.b lishbeydL iverigbhyat r.r ange­
mentw itThh eH ogartPhr esLst d. .T heI nstitouftP es ycho-AnalaynsdiS si.g munFdr eud
CopyrighLttsd .
Copyrig©ht 1 973b y EricFhr omm.A llr ights
reser\'iendc.l uditnhger ightto r eprodutchei bso oko r
pOI-titohnesr eionfa n}f orm. Publissihmeudl laneousl),
inC anadab yH oltR,i nehaarntd W instoonf C anadaL.i mited.
Porito nso ft hcb ooka ppeareidn P .lych%gy
TodayA.u gust1.9 7,1.
LibraroyfC ongresCsa talogiinngP ublicatDiaotna
Fromm.E rich1.9 00-
The anatomoyf h umand estructiveness.
Bibliograpp.h y:
I.A ggressive(nPessysc hology)
2. ViolenceI.. Title.
BF575.A3F77 152.5 73-3698
ISBN0 -03-007596-3
PublisheNdo.� ellll1J9c7r.3
ThirPdr intiJanngu.a l'1)9.7 4
Design.e\r1: .A h eIml l.
Printeidnt heU niteSdt ateosfA merica
Contents
Preface Xl
Terminology xv
IntroducItnisotni:na cntdHs u manP assions
parto ne InstinctivBieshma,v ioriPssmy,c hoanalysis
1 TheI nstinctivists
TheO ldeIrn stivnicsttis
TheN eoinsttviiinsctSsi:g munFdr euadn d Konrad
Lorenz
Frdesu'C oncoejAp ggtrs esion
Lorze'Tnsh rye oojA ggsrseion
Feruadn Ldo rze:Tn heSiiirml raitaineDdsi e ffrences
2 EnvironmentaanldBi eshtasv iorists 33
EnlitgehnmeEnntv oinrmenitsaml 33
Behaviorism 33
B. SFk.i nrn'eNse obheaviorism 34
Goalasn Vdal ues
35
ThRee asJoanSrs kn ienrmis'sP ouplayr it 40
BehaviorainsdmA ggression 42
On PsyochloigcaElx periments 45
TheF rustration-ATghgeroersys ion 66
v
V I Contents
3 InstinctainvdBi eshma viorism:
TheiDrif ferencaensdS imilarities 6g
A CommonG round 6g
MorRee ceVnite ws 71
The lPiioctaanlSd o cBiaaclk groofBu ontdh
Theories 73
4 TheP sychoanaAlpyptrioca ch
tot heU nderstanodfAi gnggr ession 77
parttw o TheE videnAceg ainstth eI nstinctiTvhiessti s
5 Neurophysiology 8g
TheR elatioofnP ssyhcihpo tloNo eguyr ophysiol8go gy
TheB raaisan B asfiorsA ggrseisvBee havior 93
TheD eefnsiFvuen ctoifAo gng rseison 95
Th"eF liIgnhstt"i nct g6
PretdiaoannA dg gerssni o g8
6 AnimaBle havior 102
AggresisnCi aopnt ivity 103
HumaAng greasnsCdir oonw ding 107
Aggrseisoinnt hWei ld 109
TerriitaolrainsDdm o mniance 114
AggerssivAemnoensOgsth eMra mmsa l ll8
HasM ana nI nhibAigtaiiKoninsl tl ing? 120
7 Paleontology 124
IsM an OSnpece i?e s 124
IsM ana P redaAtnoiramyl ? 125
8 Anthropology 12g
"Matnh Heu ntre"-ThAenh tropolAodgaimc?a l 12g
AggresasniPridom ni tiHvuen ters 136
Contents V II
PirmtiiHvuen rtse-TAheffl ueSnotc iety? 144
PrmiitiWvaer fare 146
TheN eoliRtehvliouct ion 151
PrehisStoocriieactn i"de Husm aNna teu"r 160
TheU rbaRne vloution 161
AggressiivnPe rmniiteisCvsue ul rtes 166
AnaloyfsT ihisr Ptrymi itiTvrei bes 167
SysAt:eL mif e-AffirSmoactiievtei es 168
SystBe:Nm o ndestructSiovcei-eAtgigerse ss1i6v8e
SystCe:Dm e strSuocctiievtei es 169
Exampolfte hTseh rSeyes tems 169
TheE videfnorDc ees tructainvdCe rnueeslst y 177
partth ree TVhaer ietoifeA sg gressiaonnd
DestructivaennedTs hse iRre spectiCvoen ditions
9 BenigAng gression 185
PriemlinRaermya rks 185
Pseugdgoraseison 188
AccidAegngtraels sion 188
PlayAfguglr ession 188
Self-AsAsgegrrteisvsei on 189
DeefnsiAvgeg ression 195
DiffereBnectewA eneinm aanlMdsa n 195
AggreasnsFdir oene dom 198
AggreasnsNdia ornc issism 200
AggreasnsRdie osni stance 205
Conformist Aggression 207
Instrumental Aggression 207
Ont hCea usoefWs a r 210
ThCeo ndiftoitroh Rnees d ucotfDi eofne nAsgigvree ss2i1on6
10 MalignaAngtg ressPiroenm:i ses 218
PrelimRienmaarryk s 218
ManN'ast eu r 219
TheE xistNeenetdoisfaM la n atnhVdea rious
CharacterP-asRsoiootnesd 230
A FraomfeO rienatnaDdte ivoont ion 230
V I I I Contents
Rotoedness 232
Unity 233
Effcetiveness 235
ExcitaantSdit oianmt uilon 237
ChroDneipscrs eioornem-d Bo 242
ChaacrtSetrr uec tur 251
Contdiiofnorst hDee velopomfCe hnatr acter-Rooted
Passions 253
NeuprhoyosigicoCaloln ditions 254
SocCioanld itions 258
Ont hRea tiiotanyna Idlr raltiiotfoIy nn ascttaisnn d
Paisosns 263
PyschiFcuanlco tfti hoPenas sions 265
11 MalignaAngtg ressCiroune:la tnydD estructiven2e6s8s
ApparDeenstt ructiveness 268
SpotnaneFooursm s 270
ThHei stoRreiccoarld 270
VenfgulDe etsrucstsi vene 271
EcstDaettsriucc tiveness 274
ThWoer shoifDp e structiveness 276
Kern,v oSna loAm onC:l iCnaisocefDa elts ruction
Idloatry 276
TheD estruCchtairvaeSc atedri:s m 280
ExmaploefSs e xSuaadli sm/Masochism 282
JoseSptha Al Cilni:n CiacsoajeNl o nusaeSlxa dism 285
ThNea tueor jS adism 288
CondiTthiaGoten nse rate Sadism 296
HeinHriimchme rl:C liAn Ciasceoa fAl na l-Hdoianrg
Sadism 299
12 MalignaAngtg ressNieocnr:o philia 325
TheT raditCioonencpta l 325
TheN ecrophCihlaoruasc ter 330
NechriolDpireca ms 332
"Untienn"dN eedcprhoiAlcitci ons 336
ThNee cprhoi'lLsi ancguage 340
ThCeo nneBcettiwoNenee cpnrh oialnitdah Weo rpso hfi
Tecnhique 342
Contents IX
HypothoenIs nicsae nstdth Oee dipCuosml pex
TheR elaotifFo rne uLdie'fa sn Dd eatIhsn tcitntso
Biopaha inlNdie crophilia
Cliicnal/MethoPdroilnocgiipclaels
13 MalignaAngtg ressAidoonlfH: i tler,
A CliniCcaasloe f N ecrophilia 369
PrelimRienmaarryk s 369
HilterP'asr enatnadEg aer ly Years 371
KLaHrtial er 371
AoLsiH tiLer 373
Frmo Inafnyct oAg 6e( 198-81985) 375
ChiLodohAdg est oII6 ( 8195-1900) 379
PreadoLeasnAcdedo nLcees Acgeen1sc1t e o1:7
(9100-9016) 380
Veinn(a9[0 7-1913) 388
Munich 394
A CommeonntM ethodology 395
HitleDre'sst ructiveness 396
Repsroienos jD etsrciuvteness 404
OthAesrp eocfHt sit lePre'rssl ointay 405
ReaLotnitsoW omen 409
Giftas nTdaL ents 413
Vneeer 422
DejecotjWis lla nRdea sLmi 426
EpilogOune t:h Aem biguoiftHy o pe 435
AppendFirxe:u dT'hse oryof
AggressivaenndD eessst ructiveness 439
Bibliography 479
Index 499