The Mass Psychology of Fascism by Wilhelm Reich

While Freud's theory of libidinal energyĮstablished the libido only as a metaphorical concept, Reich insisted that the orgone was a physical reality.

It theorized that physical and mental health were founded on the circulation through the body of a biological energy he called 'orgone,' repression of which led to physical or mental disease. Discovers 'Orgone'īefore 1930, Reich published his book, The Function of the Orgasm. Over a decade, he published papers that compared Marxian and Freudian concepts, married a patient and produced two daughters, and became vice director of Freud's clinic. His interest in the social causes of neurosis led him to activity in the Socialist Party. While administering clinics on sexual hygiene, Reich became sensitive to the problems of working-class people. Following service in World War I (1914-1918), he entered medical school and soon caught the attention of the well-known psychiatrist, Sigmund Freud, who welcomed him into his Viennese Psychoanalytic Society and, in 1922, made Reich his clinical assistant. SIGNIFICANCE: The judge in this case told the jury, 'It's probably the first time in the annals of jurisprudence that the government has presented a case only to have the defendants come in and say they did it.' The fact is that, while the Food & Drug Administration succeeded in proving that its injunction had been violated, it has never brought further legal action against the defendants' Public Orgonomic Research Exchange (PORE), which continues to function.īorn on a farm in Austria in 1897, Wilhelm Reich early developed an interest in natural science. Sentences: Reich: two years imprisonment Silvert: one year and one day imprisonment Foundation: $10,000 fine Defendants: Wilhelm Reich, Michael Silvert, the Wilhelm Reich FoundationĬrime Charged: Criminal contempt of courtĬhief Defense Lawyers: Wilhelm Reich and Michael Silvert, representing themselves William Moise, representing the Wilhelm Reich Foundation on appeal, Charles HaydonĬhief Prosecutors: Joseph L.

The Mass Psychology of Fascism by Wilhelm Reich