
German-American
Psychologist
23 Mar 1900
18 Mar 1980
Erich Fromm was born on March 23, 1900, in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, into an Orthodox Jewish family. He pursued his academic interests in sociology and psychoanalysis at the University of Heidelberg, where he received his PhD. Fromm's intellectual journey led him to join the Frankfurt Institute for Social Research, delving deeper into psychoanalytic theory and critiquing contemporary societal norms. His marriage to psychoanalyst Frieda Reichmann played a significant role in his early career, although they later separated.
Fleeing the Nazi regime, Fromm settled in the United States, contributing to the development of psychoanalytic and sociological theories, particularly those concerning human freedom and the social character of personality. He became a notable figure in the New York psychoanalytic community and taught at several prestigious institutions. His works, such as "Escape from Freedom" and "The Art of Loving," explore the psychological and societal conditions that foster or hinder genuine freedom and love. Fromm's unique synthesis of psychoanalysis, sociology, and humanism has left a lasting impact on both fields.