Wilhelm Reich was born in 1897. In 1919, as a student, he attended a lecture on the new science of psychoanalysis and from then on he was determined to become involved in psychiatry. Sigmund Freud was impressed by him and he joined his inner circle. By 1932 they had parted company. Freud had abandoned work on emotional problems being caused by childhood trauma but Reich as a Marxist was convinced that societal controls perpetuated by a controlling elite were introduced into people's psyche from childhood. Freud was a conformist who believed people could be cured by analysis into conforming. Reich was a rebel who believed people could be freed of their repressions and society would become a fairer and happier place to be.

In his life after this split he investigated many ideas some of them interesting but a bit off the rails. He ended unnecessarily dying in an American jail. His real legacy is how he showed that childhood trauma was held physically in the body (body armouring) and showed how it would fundamentally impact a person's life. He produced a complete model of mental instability that explained what causes what behaviour and how this effects the development of the body. He demonstrated how working directly with people's bodies, trapped emotions, that were controlling people's behaviour, could be released. On the rest of this page are the four main categories of what he called character types. They can serve as a useful tool for seeing how our inner-child was created and why it can be tricky to deal with.

Reich's books are not easy to read. Alexander Lowen who developed the science of bioenergetics is good source material on the subject."Alexander Lowen (1910–2008): reflections on his life"

For a good sympathetic look at Reich's life and work read an article in New York Times Archives entitled "Wilhelm Reich - The Psychoanalyst as Revolutionary"

Cause

This is the earliest created character type. It happens between birth and 6 months old.

A babies system is expecting to receive attention to its needs and affection and this creates a bond with the mother.

Hostility from the mother threatens the survival of the baby. In order to survive the baby allows the mothers energy to invade and take over so that the baby behaves in a ways that causes as little animosity as possible to her due to a fear of annihilation by her.

Experience

There is no place for an emerging being. This causes the child to be terrified of dying and as a natural spur to cause defensive action rage arises but there is no place for that as it would place the child in greater danger.

If passive disposition (see BIRTH page) - "I will be good and quiet for my mother."

If active disposition -" I will become what my mother wants."

Effect on Body Development

Most energy retreats to its core. Face is mask like. Eyes are vacant. Visible light energy drifts off and upward.

If passive the child will become doll like. A passive play thing for mummy.

If active may develop athletic physique to become the idyllic child who mummy will be proud of.

Consequences

Hidden deep inside is a child in terror of annihilation and with a resulting rage. This has to remain hidden or it will destroy the child's world created to please mummy. They have to deny who they really are for their own survival. As an adult they have to deny that inner child. They will find ways to escape by daydreaming, using drugs or alcohol, and having addictive abusive relationships

Cause

It happens between birth and 1 year old.

A young child's system is expecting to receive food, warmth, affection and attention from its mother.

If deprivation occurs and crying and tantrums don't resolve it, the pain becomes too great and the energy withdraws and eventually collapses. The child stops crying.

Experience

The emerging being feels isolated with little or no contact. This causes pain and anger to solicit a response which is not forth coming

If passive disposition (see BIRTH page) - "It is really unfair but no one will ever give me what I need."

If active disposition - "No-one else will help me, I will do it for myself."

Effect on Body Development

I passive the body will grow weakly and be prone to collapse. Limbs are long with less muscle growth

If active there will be an upward fight to prevent collapse.

Consequences

If passive the starved inner child will dominate the adult with lack of expectations and anger about that.

If active that inner child will be repressed or an attempt to kill off to stop undermining of getting what he/she wants.