How does develop one's ability to influence the world around them? How does one act and impact rather than being acted upon? How does one integrate the multiple parts/ identities of self to make a "whole"/ integrated you? Some thoughts based on reading/ understanding of Erich Fromm's work and writings....

1. Fostering a Productive/Action
Orientation: Through Processes
of Integration

2. Today’s discussion
 Inhibition of productive capacity
 Fostering of productive capacity
 Erich Fromm: Character orientations
 What do we mean by Productive
orientation/capacity?
 What do we mean by Processes of Integration?
 How do these processes help foster a
Productive orientation?
 Conclusion: A Personal definition of Process work

3. Inhibition of productive capacity
Forces inhibiting productive capacity:
External (Environ)
 Disapprovals/Judgements
Internal (Character)
 Lack of integrated self
 Lack of faith in one’s
own potency

4. Fostering of productive capacity
Forces fostering productive capacity:
External (Environ)
 Affirmations
Internal (Character)
 Integrated self
 Faith in one’s
own potency

5. Erich Fromm: Character
Orientations
 Receptive orientation
 Exploitative orientation
 Hoarding orientation
 Marketing orientation
 Productive orientation

6. Receptive Orientation
 Source of good – outside in some
“magical power”
 Dependent on authority for
support
 Focus – being loved
 Friendly and optimistic
 Can’t say “no”

7. Exploitative orientation
 Source of good – outside – Take
away by force or cunning
 Counter - dependent on
receivers
 Focus – Steal!
 Cynical and suspicious

8. Hoarding Orientation
 No faith in the outside
 Possession, fortified, spending/
giving a threat
 Focus – Save, over orderliness,
over punctuality
 Inclined to say “no”

9. Marketing Orientation
 Law of supply and demand
 Dependent on acceptance by
those who need services
 Focus – “saleable” personality
 Experiences oneself and others as
commodities
 “I am as you desire me” and not
“I am what I do”

10. What do we mean by Productive
Capacity/ Orientation?
Erich Fromm:
 Ability to use one’s powers and to realize the
potentialities inherent…….in a FREE, independent
environ and NOT anxiety induced, authority
induced activity
 It covers mental, emotional and sensory responses
to others, to oneself, and to things….Attitude and
NOT Activity
 ….a mode of relatedness in all realms of human
experience. To be at home with one self is a
necessary condition for relating oneself with others

11. What do we mean by Productive
Capacity/ Orientation? (Contd..)
Erich Fromm:
 One is guided by reason, since one can
make use of one’s powers only if one knows
what they are, how to use them, and what
to use them for
 One experiences oneself as the “actor”; that
(s)he feels one with his/her powers and at
the same time that they are not masked and
alienated from him/her
 Give birth to himself…..give life to emotional
and intellectual potentialities of man

12. What do we mean by Processes
of Integration?
 Resolving internal conflicts so as to
enable integration of personality
Thesis
Synthesis
Anti-thesis

13. What do we mean by Processes
of Integration?
Shiva – The Mediator
Brahma and Vishnu were arguing about their relative supremacy. Their vain
arguments were interrupted by a superluminous glow from a strange and blazing
pillar, extending infinitely, it’s shape reminiscent of the lingam.
Brahma taking the form of a swan flew upwards and Vishnu dove down
acquiring the shape of a boar. Both, however, could not fathom the extent and
returned bewildered/ exhausted.
At this moment, the pillar split open and Shiva revealed himself in his full
glory. Overawed both Brahma and Vishnu bowed before him.
Thunderous laughter, or the sound AUM, issued from the pillar filling the sky.
In metaphysical terms, it is this vertical axis which holds apart and joins heaven
and earth, dividing and uniting them at the same time, an apt symbol of cosmic
integrity. Like the Tree of Life, it is both the foundation and support that ensures
equilibrium between heaven and earth.
In Vedic hymns “Rudra”is identified with Agni, the carrier of sacrificial
offerings to gods and hence acts a mediator between men and gods and as the
metaphysical bridge between the two.

14. What do we mean by
Processes of Integration?
Eg. Meta lab - Gender & Identity lab
Masculine
Human
Feminine

15. What do we mean by
Processes of Integration?
Eg. Systems theory
Dependence
Interdependence
Independence

16. What do we mean by
Processes of Integration?
Eg. Process work
What is Process Work? – Sushanta Banerjee
“In the last few years of the century, it is very
encouraging to note the emergence of new areas of
enquiry that integrate and collage diverse disciplines
to explore phenomena as they are……
.........Perhaps the ambivalence and the diffuseness is
an invitation for process workers to find ways to the at
one-ment with the secrets and mysteries of human
existence.”

17. How do these processes help foster a
Productive orientation?
Disability of “Productive
capacity”
Ability of “Productive
capacity”
Isolation/ Unresolved conflicts/
Irrational doubts
Lack of potency
Action hindered
Lack of
freedom
Resolved personality conflicts
Strong feeling
of potency
Ability to act
Change/
Transformation

18. Conclusion
A Personal definition of Process work :
Process work = Self Reflexivity + Action + Group work
= Unleashing Productive capacity
= Freedom……to realize all of one’s potentialities!!
Since the attainment of above objectives have a causal
relationship with processes of integration/ conflict resolution (for eg.
processes of inclusivity, processes of empowerment, etc.), a clear
focus and study of the same would
 help design more effective spaces which would help vanquish
& neutralize forces that inhibit “productive capacity”, and
 help create spaces and programs which can leverage
processes of integration to nurture “productive capacity” and
thus people’s ability to unleash their potency to bring about
desired change/transformation