How do Maslow’s needs compare with those discussed by Fromm? Which of Fromm’s needs are met for Frank before he was laid off? After he was laid off?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Fromm’s relatedness need is similar, although not identical, to Maslow’s love need, and was fulfilled for Frank both before, and after, his layoff in that he has a good relationship with his wife and children.
Fromm’s transcendence need is most similar to Maslow’s actualization need but, again, is not identical. The transcendence need is a matter of rising above a passive existence and becoming purposeful and creative. Creativity can be met through reproduction, which Frank has experienced. Therefore, this need has been met, although he probably is not actualized, which is a matter of striving to be all that one can be. Although actualization can include creativity, it is more complex than that.
Fromm’s rootedness need is similar to Maslow’s safety need but again, Fromm’s need is more specific than Maslow’s and is only a portion of Maslow’s safety need. Frank appears to have his rootedness need met in that he has a home and has lived there for a long period of time. However, he fears the loss of his home because of his lack of income.
Fromm’s other two needs, i.e., sense of identity and frame of orientation, are quite different from Maslow’s needs and therefore not comparable. Frank’s sense of identity was probably met in his work as a craftsman and woodworker but since the layoff, his identification with this group of workers has disappeared. According to Fromm, our identity tends to revolve around attachment to institutions or groups and because this has been taken away from him, this need is no longer met.
It is unclear whether Frank’s need for a frame of orientation is met, i.e., what his goals are. Most likely, they revolve around providing for his family. With the layoff, this goal is more difficult to attain and so may cause some confusion. Thus, this need was probably met prior to, but not after the layoff.