The Causes of Human Aggression and Destructiveness
Theoretical Conclusions and Practical Applications
In his final lecture on human aggression and violence, German social psychologist Erich Fromm analyzes its causes and varied forms, including an examination of sadism, war, the uniquely human quality of "spiritual survival." Fromm suggests that war tends to be the result of instrumental aggression by a select few political figures with power, which negates Sigmund Freud and Konrad Lorenz's previous theories about humans as innately prone to battle. He also proposes that rather than a desire for violence, some soldiers may instead be enticed by the sense of adventure that war offers as an alternative to a mundane lifestyle. The discussion concludes with audience questions.
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