Psychodynamic Theories Debate

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Psychodynamic Theory Debate Erich Fromm theories on personality are a step forward from Sigmund Freud’s theories on psychosexual development. Erich Fromm outlined five different character types. Each personality type is defined by belonging to a specific category, and then in terms of socialisation: how a person adapts to the world in which they live (Feist, Feist & Roberts, 2013). The five personality types were, deemed either productive or non-productive character orientations. The nonproductive orientations are receptive, exploitative, hoarding and marketing (Fiest, et al, 2013). The receptive orientation where people get what they need, they take things passively. People get satisfaction from the outside world that person is usually accepting and optimistic (Feist et al, 2013). Exploitative, people expect to take what they need aggressively through stealing; most of these people are assertive and captivating (Feist e al, 2013). Hoarding orientation where people expect to keep things, they see the world through possessions of things; this person is usually steadfast and practical. There is also the marketing orientation where people expect to sell or package themselves, and surface appearance is everything to this person. In addition, this individual change their personality to coincide with the current fashion (Fiest, et al, 2013) Productive orientation is considered the healthy person, this person does not have a mask on and they define things by their actions in the world. “.Productive thinking, which cannot be separated from productive work and love, is motivated by a concerned interest in another person or object” (Feist et al, 2013 p.205). Erich Fromm suggested that humans seek the answer to their existence through five human needs, relatedness, rootedness, transcendence, a sense of identity and a frame of orientation (Feist, et al., 2013).
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