ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the history of Reich and development of his theories and describes his scientific pursuits, ending in his struggle with the FDA, trial, and death in prison. It outlines the author’s innovative method that updates Reich’s theory to reflect the sea change in sexual norms and orientations that embraces gender fluidity and flexible family models inclusive of the LGBT community. Further, the author expands Reich’s character typology. Reich’s somatic approach and his definition of sexual health are radical departures from strictly verbal psychoanalysis. This chapter includes Reich’s concept of the unitary function of mind and body, and the function of the orgasm that maintains energetic balance—his theory of energy economy. It includes Reich’s contributions to psychoanalysis, the history of his analytic training with Freud, his frustration with the tenets of analysis—aspects that are still operative stylistically in analytic and other verbal therapeutic approaches. The chapter describes character analysis as a dynamic method of intervention, as it engages directly the defensive structure in an active versus passive way. Discussion of Reich’s scientific pursuits are included: research on the origins of life, discovery of the basic elements of physical energy, its relationship with emotions, and the source of energy he named Orgone, a primordial cosmic energy universally present.
