Dying to be born: How the failure to achieve mature love keeps humanity shackled to a necrophilic orientation

Abstract

Humanity is in crisis, and has been accelerating toward its own destruction. This is evident in: apathy toward climate change and the extinction of several species; the repetitive cycle of genocide and war; and the prevalence of nationalism, fascism, and xenophobia. As a citizen of the United States, I apply Erich Fromm's concepts of mature love, capitalism, alienation, the necrophilic character orientation, and insanity to the ailments plaguing the US, including: (1) white supremacy; (2) the systemic oppression of Black and Brown people; (3) legislation against women and LGBTQ + people; and (4) anti-maskers and science deniers. I also provide a critique of the noxious effects of capitalism. Fromm's ideas suggest these problems are a reflection of our collective failure to overcome our separateness through mature love, and are a byproduct of destructive, compensatory defenses that further our alienation and deadness. Fromm describes humanity as being in its psychological nascence, and defines being fully born as being a complete, integrated individual who is capable of self-love and of loving all other living beings. To correct our current trajectory, we need only apply Fromm's work in order to not compulsively repeat our tragic history in a tumultuous struggle to be born.

Keywords:

• mature love
• necrophilic character orientation
• late stage capitalism
• white supremacy
• fascism
• United States

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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Meredith L. Friedson

Dr. Meredith L. Friedson is a licensed clinical psychologist in New York and New Jersey and an active member of the international academic community who enjoys presenting at conferences in the United States and abroad. Her areas of clinical expertise and research interests overlap, and include: depression; loss; alienation; the psychoanalytic treatment of psychosis and schizophrenia; the repetition and transmission of intergenerational trauma; the psychological impact of the limitations of language; group and individual treatment of personality disorders; race, identity, and experiences of marginalization; social justice issues; and qualitative and narrative research.