Character structure

As a character structure called Erich Fromm the root of the drives that underlie the observable behavior of a human being, that is the root of his characterological passions. It is therefore a structure of traits or characteristics that combine to form specific character orientations. Under a trait is to understand one over permanent trait that characterizes a person for. B. Courage, envy, pedantry. In psychology today, the term personality trait is more common, although not synonymous. In the field of psychoanalysis , character traits or character traits are still used as a dynamic term to describe an instinctual or passionate striving in the sense of a partial instinct that is based on a person's character structure. The basic orientation of the character (e.g. an authoritarian character ) can not be deduced from a single trait . Only when several character traits are considered in their interaction can superficial, simplistic character analyzes be avoided. According to Fromm, the character structure arises primarily through childhood experiences. Fromm describes the individual character of individual people and the social character of human societies in a similar way as a typical combination of character traits and character orientations.

See also

Character types in psychoanalysis and depth psychology

literature

• Erich Fromm : The sane society . Holt, Rinehart and Winston, New York NY 1955, (Most recently: Reprint of the 2nd enlarged edition 1956. With a new introduction by David Ingleby. Routledge, London 1991, ISBN 0-415-06308-6 ), (German: Der moderne Man and his future. A socio-psychological investigation . European publishing house, Frankfurt am Main 1955; most recently: 9th unchanged edition. Ibid. 1978, ISBN 3-434-00022-4 ).