4 unproductive personality types according to Erich Fromm

Since psychology has appeared a multitude of proposals for classify personality types.

Some with more scientific endorsement, others that have more creative work which contrasts with reality, the criteria used to find different types of people vary so much that personality systems can be devised to cover virtually any need.

An example of this is the theory of the 4 types of unproductive personality devised by Erich Fromm.

We recommend: "Erich Fromm: biography of a humanist psychoanalyst"

Productivity according to Erich Fromm

As one of the pioneers of the humanistic philosophy applied to psychology, Erich Fromm believed that personal development consists of striving to gain one's own autonomy while at the same time creating bonds of union with others and their life projects. A) Yes, true productivity only appears when we relate the tasks we perform with the conquest of our own freedom.

That is, it is born from the moment in which we adopt a sincere commitment to the objectives to achieve, a fact that only happens when this goal has a meaning that we relate to our own increase.

This implies, for example, that productivity is for Fromm much more than simply performing the greatest amount of work in the least amount of time possible, but rather rather it has to do with the way in which we embrace certain tasks to incorporate them into our own philosophy of life.

The unproductive personality types

Starting from this conception of productivity, Erich Fromm described some personality types that he called unproductive. He gave them this designation because, as personality types, they pigeonhole human beings in a comfortable situation in which it is very easy to shy away from responsibilities and indefinitely improve the achievement of the objectives related to personal development and the conquest of one's own autonomy.

These personality types present characteristics that it turns out to be valued as positive, but, nevertheless, are not simply characterized by being undesirable. Erich Fromm did not shy away from expressing the contradictions embodied in the different ways of life, and that is why that also identified some positive characteristics in each of these aspects of the personality.

Therefore, if these personality forms deserve to be labeled "unproductive" it is because some of its negative characteristics make us prone to falling into little work dynamics recommended.

Related article: "10 excuses that unproductive people always use"

The unproductive personality types are as follows.

1. The merchant

Commercial-type people turn their philosophy of life into selling their own image. They try to climb socially thanks to their aesthetics and the social level that reflects their way of speaking, dressing, walking, etc. They make themselves a brand to sell through a self-promotion campaign that lasts a lifetime.

This personality type is unproductive because much of his work is simply focused on speculate with the value associated with your image.

However, these types of people also have desirable characteristics, such as your motivation and your ability to direct your efforts to long-term projects.

2. The exploiter

People defined by this personality type have, according to Fromm, a propensity to use for their own benefit a good part of the things they findregardless of who produced them or to whom they belong. That is, they do not see too much importance in earning what helps them to achieve their short-term goals.

Although this characteristic is negative, they also show desirable properties, such as self-confidence, self-judgment, and initiative.

3. The receptive

People showing the receptive personality type would be characterized, according to Erich Fromm, by have a good capacity for acceptance and tend to dedicate themselves selflessly to their tasks. However, they also tend to be passive and conformist, in addition to preferring to flee from conflicts and confrontation of ideas.

They show ease in legitimizing the present state of things, no matter how damaging and unjust it may be, and they can also transform work teams in a soundboard in which the leader ideas they are always received with approval, even if they are tremendously bad.

4. Accumulator

Hoarders are prone to a materialistic mindset in which even the people around us (friends, family, etc.) are seen as resources in themselves. That is why individuals defined by this personality type highly value the "possession" of friends. well placed socially and economically, and accumulate these types of assets to make their value become the yours.

The positive aspect of this type of people is that they are very oriented towards achieving goals and obtaining clear results, in addition to avoiding unnecessary expenditure of resources.

The application to the company and organizations

This part of Erich Fromm's theory can be applied to a large number of organizations and work teams, since refers to aspects of the personality that may be present in professionals in any field.

However, to fully understand the way in which Fromm understood the nature of these traits, it is good to delve into the work of this author, since the philosophical and psychoanalytic background of this author makes it difficult to separate this part of his ideas from his entire legacy theoretical.