Violence and Narcissism: A Frommian Perspective on Destructiveness under Authoritarianism

  • This article offers a sympathetic appraisal of Erich Fromm’s concept of narcissism as it relates to the emergence, sustenance, and resolution of authoritarian violence. The discussion is first placed within the methodological debate over the analytic operations that are required for an adequate understanding of authoritarian violence, explaining why a psychoanalytic perspective is necessary. The focus then shifts to Fromm’s take on the Freudian concept of narcissism, before proceeding to explore in some depth his account of the symbolic mechanisms and contextual climate that must combine in practice in order for narcissistic energies to be channeled into authoritarianism and violence. Attention in this regard is paid both to the populace and governing elites. The article concludes with a short exposition of Fromm’s notion of benign narcissism, from its specific content to the conditions of its possibility.

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Metadaten
Author:Leonidas K. Cheliotis
Parent Title (English):Fromm Forum (English Edition – ISSN 1437-1189), 16 / 2012, Tuebingen (Selbstverlag), pp. 27-38.
Series (Serial Number):Fromm Forum (English edition / englische Ausgabe) (e16/2012d)
Document Type:Articles
Language:English
Year of first Publication:2012
Release Date:2012/12/13
Format:PDF-file upon request / PDF-Datei auf Anfrage
IdNo:Cheliotis_L_K_2012
Writings about Erich Fromm (Secondary Literature):Articles / Artikel
Erich Fromm's Library and Erich Fromm Archive:Articles / Artikel
International Erich Fromm Society's Writings:Articles / Artikel
Licence (German):
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