Time and Place:New York at Kaufman Concert Hall on April 19, 1968

Abstract: The lecture series The Causes of Human Aggression and Destructiveness presents the results of research published by Erich Fromm in his book The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness (1973). In the fifth lecture, Fromm first underlines his psychodynamic perspective: that not the behavior as such but what behavior (also unconsciously) motivates is the point of view to speak of human destructiveness. After criticizing Konrad Lorenz’s hydraulic theory of destructiveness Fromm speaks of humanism as an inhibiting factor to instrumental aggression and of compassion and empathy in the relationship of humans to animals. In addition to playful and instrumental aggression this lecture presents a third type of destructiveness which has no aggressive motivation: organizational destructiveness. Whether or not this type implies aggressive motivation is illustrated by the difference between international wars and civil wars. – The discussion concludes with audience questions. – The lecture was given by Erich Fromm on the invitation of the Young Men’s and Young Women’s Hebrew Association at Kaufman Concert Hall. The lecture (54’) is followed by Fromm’s answers (22’) to questions from the audience.

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/): 1968r-eng