from Erich Fromm's 1942 book Fear of Freedom

from Erich Fromm's 1942 book Fear of Freedom:

"In themechanisms we have been discussing, the individual overcomes thefeeling of insignificance in comparison with the overwhelming power ofthe world outside himself either by renouncing his individualintegrity, or by destroying others so that the world ceases to bethreatening.

Other mechanisms of escape are the withdrawalfrom the world so completely that it loses its threat (the picture wefind in certain psychotic states 1), and the inflation of oneselfpsychologically to such an extent that the world outside becomes smallin comparison. Although these mechanisms of escape are important forindividual psychology, they are only of minor relevance culturally. Ishall not, therefore, discuss them further here, but instead will turnto another mechanism of escape which is of the greatest socialsignificance.

This particular mechanism is the solution thatthe majority of normal individuals find in modern society. To put itbriefly, the individual ceases to be himself; he adopts entirely thekind of personality offered to him by cultural patterns; and hetherefore becomes exactly as all others are and as they expect him tobe. The discrepancy between "I" and the world disappears and with itthe concious fear of aloneness and powerlessness. This mechanism can becompared with the protective colouring some animals assume. They lookso similar to their surroundings that they are hardly distinguishablefrom them. The person who gives up his individual self and becomesan automaton, identical with millions of other automatons around him,need not feel alone and anxious any more. But the price he pays,however, is high; it is the loss of his self."