Erich Fromm, a German-American psychoanalyst and social philosopher, emphasized the social and cultural factors that shape personality and mental health. He argued that individual psychological functioning is profoundly influenced by social and cultural forces, and that an individual's sense of identity and self-worth is tied to their social relationships and cultural context. Fromm's work, particularly his ideas about the importance of social justice and the need for a transformative social and political agenda, influenced many later psychoanalysts, including those associated with relational psychoanalysis.
Karen Horney, a German-American psychoanalyst, focused on the social and cultural factors that influence gender identity, relationships, and mental health. She criticized Freud's emphasis on biological determinism and argued that gender identity is shaped by cultural expectations and socialization. Horney also emphasized the importance of interpersonal relationships, particularly the relationship between the mother and child, in shaping an individual's psychological development. Her ideas about the social and cultural context of human development and mental health have been influential in the development of relational psychoanalysis.
While Erich Fromm and Karen Horney were not directly associated with the development of relational psychoanalysis, their work has been influential in shaping the ideas and perspectives of many later psychoanalysts who have contributed to the development of this school of thought. Therefore, while it would be too simplistic to attribute the special inclination toward social and cultural concerns in relational psychoanalysis solely to Fromm and Horney, their work has undoubtedly contributed to the broader theoretical and clinical developments in this field.
