Normative identity work: exploring Erich Fromm’s perspective on self and society

  • This article explores the potential of normative identity work to foster humanistic transformation, drawing from Erich Fromm’s social theory. By engaging with Fromm’s insights into the interplay between individuals and societal structures, the analysis demonstrates how identity work – understood as an ongoing process of self-construction within social contexts – can confront what Fromm terms the ‘pathology of normalcy’. Central to the discussion are Fromm’s reflections on identity and its relationship to the human needs for rootedness, relatedness and the construction of a frame of orientation. J14125The article integrates Fromm’s views on identity with contemporary identity research, illustrating the tensions between conforming to societal expectations and the pursuit of self-realisation. It introduces the ‘normative ABC of identity work’, a model structured around three key dimensions: agency, belonging and coherence. This model offers a lens to examine the various ways societal forces shape identity work, influencing individuals in directions that may either align with societal norms or open pathways towards humanistic growth and transformation. In the conclusion, the article emphasises the relationship between identity work and Fromm’s concept of social character, highlighting how social character can reflect and reinforce societal patterns while also pointing to the transformative potential embedded in humanistic values. This synthesis provides a critical framework for understanding how identity work can both sustain and challenge existing social norms and power structures.

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Metadaten
Author:Thomas Kühn
Parent Title (English):Journal of Psychosocial Studies, Vol. 17, No. 3, pp. xx; DOI: 10.1332/14786737Y2024D000000033
Document Type:Articles
Language:English
Year of first Publication:2024
Release Date:2024/11/29
Format:to purchase via publisher
IdNo:Kuehn_T_2024a
Writings about Erich Fromm (Secondary Literature):Articles / Artikel
Erich Fromm's Library and Erich Fromm Archive:Articles / Artikel
Licence (German):to purchase / zu erwerben
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