Fromm defined the masochistic character as the majority personality type of bourgeois society.

Evidence

A psychoanalyst, Erich Fromm (1941), had already given an answer. He argued that the Nazi regime arose from a sickness in the German people. The leaders on the podium at the Nuremberg rallies and the vast crowds of faithful followers before them allegedly manifested the two faces of the sadistic-masochistic personality. This one illness drove both groups, Fromm proposed, locking them into a dominance-submissive authoritarian embrace. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 892 (#expands, via linked claim)

In this short, programmatic lecture, his view was that both psychology and sociology were necessary, precisely for the investigation of the most significant problems, and that among the most important psychological and sociological questions' was what connections there are between the social development of humanity, particularly its economic and technical development, and the development of its mental faculty, particularly the ego-organization of the human being’. He sketched out the idea of an anti-metaphysical, historical anthropology, which would give a general, historical-materialist form to the historicization of certain psychoanalytical categories which had been undertaken by Wilhelm Reich and Siegfried Bernfeld. — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 216 (#expands, via linked claim)

The fact that the fascist follower’s masochism is inevitably accompanied by sadistic impulses is in harmony with Freud’s general theory of ambivalence, originally developed in connection with the Oedipus complex. Since the fascist integration of individuals into masses satisfied them only vicariously, their resentment against the frustrations of civilization survives but is canalized to become compatible with the leader’s aims; it is psychologically fused with authoritarian submissiveness. — Theodor W. Adorno, The Culture Industry, 328 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Fromm explained Nazism as sadistic-masochistic personality sickness. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 892; Fromm conflated sadomasochistic character with authoritarian society, losing the psychological dimension — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 616; The Lonely Crowd’s character typology derives from Fromm’s concept of social character — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 1820 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Fromm explained Nazism as sadistic-masochistic personality sickness. #expands (0.90) — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 892
• Fromm proposed a historical-materialist anthropology fusing psychoanalysis with sociology. #expands (0.85) — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 216
• Fascist followers’ masochism is fused with sadistic impulses #expands (0.85) — Theodor W. Adorno, The Culture Industry, 328
• The Lonely Crowd’s character typology derives from Fromm’s concept of social character #expands (0.80) — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 1820
• Fromm conflated sadomasochistic character with authoritarian society, losing the psychological dimension #complicates (0.75) — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 616