exploitative orientation

in the existential psychoanalysis of Erich Fromm, a character pattern marked by the use of stealth, deceit, power, or violence to obtain what the individual wants. The character type is plagiaristic rather than spontaneously or resourcefully creative. Also called exploitative character. Compare hoarding orientation; marketing orientation.

Browse dictionary by letter

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Psychology term of the day

December 19th 2024

regression in the service of the ego

in psychoanalytic theory, the adaptive circumvention of normal ego functioning in order to access primitive material (see primary process), often associated with the creative process. [first described by Swiss-born U.S. psychoanalyst Ernst Kris (1900–1957)]