Erich Fromm, The Fear Of Freedom

Abstract Since the term ·sado-masochistic’ is associated with ideas of perversion and neurosis, I prefer to speak of the sado-masochistic character, especially when not the neurotic but the normal person is meant, as the· authoritarian character’. This terminology is justifiable because the sado-masochistic person is always characterized by his attitude towards authority. He admires authority and tends to submit to it, but at the same time wants to be an authority himself and have others submit to him. There is another reason for choosing this term. The Fascist system calls itself authoritarian because of the dominant role of authority in its social and political structure. By the term· authoritarian character’, we imply that it represents the personality structure which is the human basis of Fascism.[ ]