Erich fromm's escape from sigmund freud. An introduction to “escape from freedom”

Abstract

Chrzanowski G. Erich Fromm's Escape from Sigmund Freud. An Introduction to “Escape from Freedom”. Int Forum Psychoanal 1997;6:185-189. Stockholm. ISSN 0803-706X.

After Erich Fromm died in 1980, the White Institute had a formal ceremony and published an issue of its quarterly journal devoted to his work. He had left papes behind, and since his death a permanent archive has been established by Rainer Funk in Germany. Fromm's home was in Locarno-Muralto, where he lived from 1967 until his death. This paper was delivered on the occasion of the dedication ceremony of a memorial plaque to him there.

It discusses the author's experiences working with Fromm as his supervisor at the William Alanson White Institute. It also describes the founding of the IFPS in 1962. It was founded by a small group of representatives of analytic societies: myself as representative of the William Alanson White Society, Erich Fromm as representative of the Mexican Psychoanalytic Society, Werner Schwidder of the D.P.G., and Caruso from the Austrian organization. Fromm had neglected to note that the Olympics were being held in Mexico City in 1968, and was forced to postpone the Third International Forum until 1969.

In the interim, Fromm suffered a heart attack in Switzerland. He called me from Locarno-Muralto and asked me to cover all the necessary arrangements in the U.S. and Europe for a world-wide psychoanalytic event, the Third Forum of the IFPS.

Fromm was an only child in a very devout family and was brought up in the talmudic tradition. When he came to the U.S. he gave up his religious practice. Fromm's relationship to Freud was complicated. It is known he never made contact with Freud; on the other hand, he had difficulty giving up some of Freud's theories. He had difficulty letting go and showing his own capacity as an analyst. His creative approach was not recognized by many psychoanalysts, though he introduced many novel aspects and worked in a style that has become accepted among psychoanalysts. He was not always recognized as a person of outstanding ability, and doubts were raised about his qualifications as an analyst. An understanding of his clinical work was hampered by the confidential nature of much of his work in Mexico. But eventually his insights were recognized. The commemoration of his life confirms his importance as someone with knowledge ahead of his time.