Choosing the path of a scientist-researcher, a person most often dooms himself to years of hard work and loneliness. Great discoveries are rare, and painstaking daily work can often lead to a dead end.
You can get worldwide recognition and a number of prestigious awards. But it also happens that all discoveries are recognized by pundits as pseudoscientific, and instead of well-deserved laurels, they will get ridicule and persecution.
Wilhelm Reich turned out to be such a scientist for his time, who was not understood and appreciated by his contemporaries. “Love, work and knowledge are the sources of our life. They should determine its course,” Reich said and always adhered to this rule.
He was gifted, possessed of perseverance and an amazing capacity for work, but he could not cope with his own pain and fears, reaching for Reich from childhood.
Beginning of life
From birth, Wilhelm Reich was a subject of Austria-Hungary. The authoritativeness and despotism of the father was opposed to the gentleness and compliance of the mother. To younger brotherWilhelm never experienced kinship.
Pity for his mother did not prevent the boy from telling his father about the courtship of her home teacher. A scandal broke out, the consequence of which was the death of the mother. Bibliographers note that Reich could not recover from this mental trauma all his life.
The father did not long outlive his wife. At the age of seventeen, Wilhelm took care of the family farm.
The outbreak of war crossed out the old life. Cavalry rushed through native Galicia, divisions marched, destroying everything in their path. There was a threat of forced relocation to the territory of the Russian Empire. Reich decides to leave Bukovina. Never again will he return to his native land.
War
At that time, it seemed to Wilhelm that joining the Austrian army was the right thing to do. For four years, he proved himself in battles on the Italian front, rose to the rank of lieutenant.
Military service did not become a vocation. Death, blood, suffering oppressed Wilhelm. Not pleased with the fate of the losing side. Austria-Hungary lost part of its lands, including Bukovina. This part of the empire came under the jurisdiction of Romania. Returning home was out of the question.
Years of study
Having said goodbye forever to the army, Wilhelm Reich goes to Vienna. There he decides to enter the medical faculty of a local university. Participation in the war gave him the opportunity to shorten the course by two years.
After practicing at the university clinics, Reich decided on his future specialization. On a par within the study of internal medicine, he became interested in neuropsychiatry, hypnosis and suggestion-based therapy. Attended advanced biology courses.
The research and publications of luminaries such as Sigmund Freud spurred Wilhelm on. He seemed to be in a hurry to complete his basic training and start his own practical research.
Sigmund Freud and the first steps in psychoanalysis
At 23, Wilhelm becomes a member of the Vienna Psychoanalyst Association. He opened a direct path to the best medical clinics and institutes.
But Reich was interested in a new direction in psychiatry - psychoanalysis. At this time, the opportunity arose to become a student of Freud. In matters of learning a new discipline, Wilhelm was the most persistent and capable assistant.
The teacher appreciated the zeal and ability: by the age of thirty, Reich first becomes vice director, and then heads Freud's clinic. Until the beginning of the 1930s, the young scientist carried on a vigorous activity. He leads his private practice, seminars, lectures. Engaged in psychological research. It was then that his own theory of the emergence of neuroses was born.
To develop and test his research, he holds appointments and consultations at Vienna's community care centres. The more confirmation of his theory received Reich, the more complicated the relationship with Freud. Dissatisfaction accumulated, they refused to understand each other.
The last straw was Wilhelm's passion for the ideas of communism. He is everythingwent more into studying the causes of working-class neuroses, challenging the teacher's conclusions.
As the own theory of psychoanalysis was formed, the bourgeois doctrines that Sigmund Freud preached faded into the background. Soon there was a complete break in the relationship of scientists. Reich turned from a talented student and follower into an obstinate apostate, defending the ideas of communism.
Psychoanalysis's own theory
"Due to centuries of oppression, the masses are not able to dispose of freedom" (W. Reich).
While conducting sessions of psychoanalysis, the young scientist noticed a connection between the behavior and mental state of patients. After studying this phenomenon, Wilhelm Reich developed a theory according to which it is possible to artificially influence the psychological mood by changing the manner of behavior.
At the same time, he realized that neurosis is a direct consequence of a person's sexual repression by society. Psychological he alth depends on the ability to release accumulated energy in time. The deterrent that prevents you from getting rid of tension is society, the laws of morality and behavior.
Wilhelm Reich's therapy consisted of prevention and treatment not only of the individual, but of society as a whole. He made proposals to change the social norms of morality and through this to achieve a more psychologically he althy society.
On his own initiative, Reich conducts consultations, reads educational lectures for working youth. Supporting the ideas of Marx, the scientist was sure that the future of the country lies with this partsociety.
He introduced the concept of "sexual revolution" into the minds, arguing that only an emancipated person who has sexual rights and freedoms can be useful to society.
Reich categorically stated that the mental he alth of the nation is not in prohibitions, but in the possibility of releasing sexual energy. His proposal not to treat, but to carry out the prevention of neuroses received a wide response much later, after his death.
Family
It is not known for certain how much the theory of psychoanalysis helped the author of the method. It seems that Reich was not happy. He was so busy with scientific research that he did not find time for himself at all.
Childhood passed under the yoke of an overbearing father, overshadowed by guilt over the death of his mother. Several times Wilhelm returned to an attempt to analyze that period of his life, but did not succeed in this.
The scientist tried to start his own family for the first time when he was a university student. Annie Pink was the scientist's wife for 11 years. She moved with him to Germany, but refused to go to Scandinavia.
In Oslo, he meets the ballerina Elsa Lindenberg, who is fascinated by the ideas of communism. It would seem that one can enjoy family happiness, but at that time the first wave of Reich's persecution began. He was labeled a pseudoscientist, expelled from medical associations, openly laughed at in newspaper publications.
Reich during this period began to show his father's character traits. Authoritarianism became the main feature of his nature. ATrelations with his wife increasingly slipped jealousy and distrust. In the end, the second marriage fell apart.
After moving to America, Reich is getting married for the third time. He opted for a German immigrant, Ilse Ollendorf, who was also his assistant.
Very little evidence of the scientist's personal life. A few old photographs and brief eyewitness accounts. Reich's own family meant less to him than his academic career.
Germany and Sexpol
After the final break with Freud, Reich moves to Berlin. The turmoil of the political situation in Germany, new trends among young people created excellent ground for improving and introducing their own method.
The scientist creates the Union of Proletarian Sexual Politics at the state level. The ideas of the organization were so innovative that in the first year the number of participants exceeded fifty thousand.
Ideas about sex education, contraceptive rights, abortion and divorce have been a big success in progressive youth circles. The main goal of "Sexpol" was to prevent the suppression of a free person by society in order to maintain psychological he alth.
The scientist developed special exercises and introduced a special massage for the free movement of energy in the body. The sexual revolution was taking place in the minds and actions of the followers of the Reich.
Many enlightened people of that time did not support or openly expressed their dissatisfaction with National Socialism, which openly declared itself in the early 30s. ATthe number of protesters included Wilhelm Reich, whose publications, especially Mass Psychology and Fascism, showed without embellishment the whole ins and outs of the impending order, especially its effect on the psychological state of man.
"The combination of reactionary ideas with revolutionary feelings results in a fascist personality type" (W. Reich).
Frankness of statements and adherence to one's own judgments led to the first negative consequences. Pundits from the Psychoanalytic Association accused him of pseudoscientific activity and adherence to the ideas of communism. As a result, Reich had to say goodbye to this scientific organization.
A number of publications of the scientist caused dissatisfaction among the members of the Communist Party. Reich was expelled from the party.
According to Wilhelm's own words, life in Germany became dangerous for him when the Nazis came to power. Arrest or physical destruction could happen at any moment.
There was nothing left but to leave Germany and seek salvation and understanding in other countries.
Years of wandering: Scandinavia and the discovery of orgone
Moving to Scandinavia, Reich first settled in Norway. There he founded a school of body therapy. Conducted consultations, lectured, hosted. He tried to explain and improve existing areas of psychoanalysis, conducted scientific experiments.
As a result, Wilhelm Reich discovered a completely new biological energy. There were no analogues. Further experiments showed a number of properties that could be used for the treatment of diseases and their prevention. According toscientist, even cancer cells could not resist the new energy.
Reich defined his discovery and named the energy "orgone". After the publication of research materials, a new wave of indignation rose in scientific circles. Ridicule and harassment brought the scientist to the point that he was forced to move to Denmark.
No significant improvements have occurred in the new country. The government banned the research. The collapse of his second marriage was approaching. The situation was aggravated by the imminent start of a great war. Reich began to think seriously about moving to America. He believed that in a free country he would be able to realize his ideas and continue scientific research.
Moving to America
In Oslo, Reich met Theodor Wolff. It was this American psychologist who contributed to the rapid move to America. In 1939, Wilhelm received an invitation to New York and moved to the New World.
The first few years were very fruitful. Reich lectured and taught courses. Many of his works began to be published in English. His innovations in therapy were accepted by doctors and adopted the technique with pleasure.
The main thing in this period of life was the opportunity to study orgone. He believed that with the help of this energy he could defeat cancer. Experiments on mice showed good prospects. The American authorities allowed the creation of the Orgone Institute.
At this time, Reich came to grips with the development of a vaccine against cancer and the possibility of orgone accumulation. This was necessary in order to use the energy more fully anddirected.
During his travels around the country, Reich discovered the perfect place to experiment with orgone. It would seem that the very nature of Maine took care of this. The scientist came to those places for several years in a row to conduct experiments, until the opportunity arose to purchase a small farm.
Orgone Therapy
In the early 40s, the scientist began to introduce orgone therapy. For these purposes, special batteries were created. They were ordinary boxes made of metal and wood.
The patient was inside and saturated with orgone for 30 minutes. According to Reich, this can speed up metabolic processes and increase blood circulation.
An experiment conducted by a scientist on 14 people terminally ill with cancer showed amazing results. Improvement was observed, x-rays showed a decrease in the tumor. Several patients remained alive several years after orgone therapy.
Based on the research, Wilhelm Reich came to the conclusion that the presence of emotional blocks in a person contributes to a sharp decrease in the level of bioenergy inside the body. In this regard, there is a possibility of a cancerous tumor.
At this time, Reich actively promotes the use of orgone accumulators. Articles are published, lectures are given, books are printed. These years were very fruitful in the life of a scientist. It was this freedom of action that he dreamed of when he was in Europe.
Orgonon
In the autumn of 1942 appearedthe opportunity to start realizing a long-standing dream - to build a house in an ideal place for research and study of orgone. An old farm on a lake in Maine was perfect for this.
The house that Reich named Orgonon grew in size. There was an opportunity to recruit students. A laboratory, a library, an observatory for observing and studying energy were built for them.
Another use of orgone
The work of the observatory gave amazing results. It turned out that orgone can influence natural phenomena. Reich presented his technique for reducing the strength of storms and received the approval of the US government. The Phoenix program has produced stunning weather effects.
A scientist has designed and tested Cloudbuster, a device capable of changing orgone energy in the atmosphere. Different concentrations could significantly affect the weather.
The largest experiment was carried out at the request of local farmers. With the help of Cloudbuster, they saved the blueberry crop by causing a long-awaited rain. The newspaper article promoted the new equipment.
Ten years of persecution
"First a person kills something in himself, then he starts killing others" (W. Reich).
The scientific world could not put up with the strange studies and conclusions that Reich actively promoted. Direct followers of Freud and orthodox scientists considered developments and ideas to be pseudoscientific. And the innovator himself was called a charlatan.
The situation escalated afterscandalous publication in a magazine. A whole tub of drawn facts was poured on Reich's head. An accusation was made that the actions of a pseudoscientist are dangerous to society.
The article sparked a ten-year investigation. During this time, the persecution of the scientist was purposefully carried out. Reich's students, partners, and patients were interviewed. None of them complained or expressed dissatisfaction.
Despite this, the commission issued a verdict - the treatment of cancer by prohibited methods. All equipment was recognized as hazardous to the he alth and life of patients. The case went to court, which legalized a complete ban on everything related to orgone energy.
In 1957, books produced by the Reich Institute flew into the incinerator. Any mention of orgone was erased from textbooks. Publications in the periodical press flew into the fire. Lab equipment, batteries and Cloudbuster were destroyed.
Recent years
One of Reich's students tried to salvage some batteries and labors, thus violating a court order. In this regard, a new court case was opened, and both scientists were sentenced to prison, and the Wilhelm Reich Foundation was fined a huge amount - 10 thousand dollars.
History repeated itself again, but now in free America, in whose democracy the scientist so believed. Scientific works, achievements of a lifetime were destroyed.
Appeals were stubbornly rejected. Reich's followers were persecuted and arrested.
Torn by persecution and flagrant injustice, the scientist writes a will, anticipating the imminent end of life. He left Orgonon to posterity to create a museum and preserve the scientific heritage.
Wilhelm Reich celebrated his sixtieth birthday in prison, and died eight months later. What caused it is not known for certain. The official conclusion is a heart attack.
The great apostate is buried in Orgonon - in the place where he was happy and full of hope for new scientific discoveries.
Decades have passed, and many ideas, theories and developments of Wilhelm Reich have been developed and applied in modern psychotherapy. The sexual revolution he started took place. Women gained the right to birth control. In secondary schools, the subject "Sex Education" is introduced. Bioenergy is used in alternative medicine and in the teachings of philosophers.
Reich belonged to that type of scientists who were not understood and accepted during his lifetime. He was far ahead of the scientists of his time. It was for this courage, unwillingness to come to terms with reality that the scientist suffered. Stubbornly defending their ideas gave good results, but only after half a century.
