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Introduction
As early as 1919, Erich Fromm started diving into the intriguing concepts of Sociology. Born to Jewish
parents in the 23rd of March, 1900- Fromm started his academic fill at the University of Frankfurt in
1918. His guide for the subject of Sociology at the University of Heidelberg was the brother of Max
Weber (many times considered one of the three founders of Sociology), better known as Alfred Weber.
The other two of his guides were Karl Jaspers & Henrich Rickert.
the name suggests, this group of scholars modified the theories of Sigmund Freud on the basis of their
own psychoanalytical thinking, though a resemblance with Freud's line of thinking existed. Fromm was
also an instructor from 1941 o 1949 at the Bennington College. Fromm was a co-founder of the
William Alanson White Institute of Psychiatry, which was established at 1946. Last, but not the leastFromm also contributed in forming the Washington School of Psychiatry at New York in 1943.
In 1949, from assumed the post of a faculty at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. One of
his major contribution was to setup a psychoanalytic section at the medical school. He also professed at
the Michigan State University & New York University during the timeframes 1957-1961 & after 1962
respectively. He was a professor of Psychology at both the universities but specifically at the graduate
division of Arts & Sciences at the New York University.
Fromm was deeply impacted by the effects of First World War. He underwent a tremendous
transformation. A quote by the eminent psychoanalyst:
When the war ended in 1918, I was a deeply troubled young man who was obsessed by the question of
how war was possible, by the wish to understand the irrationality of human mass behavior, by a
passionate desire for peace and international understanding. More, I had become deeply suspicious of
all official ideologies and declarations, and filled with the conviction of all one must doubt.
Relationships
He was married to Frieda Reichmann in the year 1926. Fromm was the younger one among the couple,
by about 10 years. Though their relationship did not sustain in the long run, Fromm & Freida
maintained a healthy relationship post their separation.
Erich Fromm had a second marriage with Henny Gurlandin in 1944. Though Fromm made a good
attempt at getting his wife cured by making a shift over to Mexico, as per the doctor's advice- the
purpose was not well served. Henny eventually expired in the year 1952.
However, Fromm found his partner a year later. In the year 1953, Fromm had his final marriage with
Annis Freeman.
Final Years
Towards the end of his life Fromm became occupied with the ideas of temporal existence of mankind.
He moved to his home in Switzerland & eventually passed away five days prior to his eightieth
birthday.
His book titled The Working Class in Weimar Germany was publish after his demise ie.
Posthumously. It upholds the alliances between the people of the working class & the Nazis.