Portland State University PDXScholar Dissertations and Theses Dissertations and Theses 1988 The study of national character in the post war era : the work of Erich Fromm, David Riesman, and David Potter Adam Rittenberg Portland State University Follow this and additional works at: https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds Part of the Intellectual History Commons, and the United States History Commons Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Rittenberg, Adam, "The study of national character in the post war era : the work of Erich Fromm, David Riesman, and David Potter" (1988). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 3851. https://doi.org/10.15760/etd.5735 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of PDXScholar. Please contact us if we can make this document more accessible:
[email protected]. RN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Ada~ Rittenberg for the Ma!ter of Art! in History presented March 11, 1988. Title: The Study of National Character in the Po!t-War Era: the work of Erich Fromm, David Riesman, and David Potter. APPROUEO BY MEMBERS OF THE THESIS COMMITTEE: Bernard U, Burke Ann Weikel Charlee Bolton Thl9 theeie examlnee the study of national character thr~ugh the work of the psychologist Erich Fromm, the sociologist David Rles1an, and the historian David Potter. Above al I I Intend to provide a critical exegesis of the three thinkers. wi I I relate them to one another by discussing the Interconnections In their thought, beginning with Fromm's social psychological theory of 2 character, turning to Ries1an 1 s theory of sociology and, finally, Potter's theory of A•erican history.