Time and Place: Cincinnati on January 8, 1953

Abstract: The lecture “Mental Health in Contemporary Society” is the first of two lectures Fromm presented in January 1953 at the Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, Ohio. After some notions about the statistical perspective of mental health, Fromm discusses the meaning of mental health: Is it defined by normality as being well adjusted to societal norms or is there a normative humanistic view possible? Love, reason and a sense of humility in regard to our limitations are central aspects of a humanistic view of mental health. These human goals are valid for all human beings of all time. If they are prevented from developing optimally, psychosocial defects occur. The fact that this in some people leads to neurotic symptoms is, for Fromm, a sign that these people still have a sense of what is healthy and hence cannot adjust to the pathological goals of society. The conflict between human goals (and hence aims of mental health) and certain features in contemporary society is illustrated in light of current social and political developments. – The lecture (52’) was given at the Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati (Ohio) on January 6, 1953.

The text of the lecture and discussion can be downloaded as a PDF file.

ID in the directory of Erich Fromm’s works (https://fromm-online.org/en/works/original-writings/): 1953c-eng