The Betrayal of the Body

292 Pages·1969·49.45 MB·English

by  Alexander Lowen

h Alexander *195
I ©
Lowen,
m.d.
*
.
Betrayal of
Body
the
Bodily pleasure is a vital source of emotional
well-being. Yet many people actually deny
the body's hunger for pleasure and its capacity
for joy. This encouraging book charts a new
,
course toward emotional fulfillment through
body awareness and the recovery of a
gratifying mind-body relationship.
by the author of
Love and Orgasm

The Betrayal of the Body
BooksbyAlexanderLowen,M.D.
TheLanguageoftheBody
LoveandOrgasm
"Pleasure
The
Betrayal of
Body
the
Alexander Lowen, M.D.
COLLIER BOOKS
A
Division ofMacmillan PublishingCo.,Inc.
NEW YORK
COLLIER MACMILLAN PUBLISHERS
LONDON
©
Copyright 1967byAlexanderLowen
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced
or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any
information storage and retrieval system, without permission
inwritingfromthePublisher.
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOG CARD NUMBER! 67-I2796
FirstCollierBooksEdition 1969
TenthPrinting 1976
The Betrayal of the Body is published in a hardcover edition
byMacmillanPublishingCo.,Inc.
Macmillan PublishingCo.,Inc.
866ThirdAvenue,NewYork,N.Y. 10022
.
CollierMacmillanCanada,Ltd.
PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica
TO MY PATIENTS
Whose courage to confront
their terror and despair
inspires these pages
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Mrs. Adele Lewis, Executive Secretary of The Institute for
Bio-Energetic Analysis, gave generously—of her time and
energy to the preparation of this book editing, offering
criticism, and making suggestions. For her indefatigable
effort I am deeply grateful. Dr. John C. Pierrakos listened
patiently to many readings and offered comments. Mr.
Walter Skalecki prepared the drawings and diagrams. Mr.
Carl Morse, senior editor of the Macmillan Company,
helpedgreatlywith his support andadvice. To thesepeople
and others who have shown a sincere interest in my ideas
andwork, I wish to express mygratitude.
Contents
1. THE PROBLEMOFIDENTITY 1
The ImageversusReality 3
Realityand theBody
5
TheEgo andtheBody 7
2. THE SCHIZOID DISTURBANCE 19
Varieties of Schizoid Personality and Behavior 22
ApproachestotheSchizoidProblem 29
3. THE DEFENSE AGAINST TERROR 36
FearandTerror 36
The Dynamics of the Schizoid Defense 40
TheSchizoidBarricade 43
The Schizoid Retreat 47
BreakdownandSchizophrenia 49
4. THE FORSAKENBODY 53
Self-possession
53
TheSchizoidMask 55
Bodily Rigidity, Fragmentation, and Collapse 62
5. THE BODYIMAGE 71
TheMaskoftheClown j-$
The Doll
77
Depersonalization 82
SeductionandRejection 86
6. THE PSYCHOLOGYOF DESPERATION 91
Self-destructive Behavior 91
The TechniqueofSurvival 95
vii
viii Contents
7. ILLUSIONAND REALITY IO9
DesperationandIllusion 109
DespairandDissociation 114
Parental Unreality 120
The Reigning Illusions 123
8. DEMONSAND MONSTERS I28
9. THEPHYSIOLOGYOF PANIC I45
Respiration 146
EnergyMetabolism
157
Motility 160
10. EATINGANDSLEEPING 165
CompulsionandIllusion 165
Eating and Sexuality 167
Paranoid Behavior and Overeating 170
Sleeping 182
11. ORIGINAND CAUSES 189
ConstitutionalFactors 190
PsychologicalFactors 197
TheTraumaofIdentification 200
SexandParanoia 206
12. RECLAIMINGTHE BODY 209
TheTherapyofaSchizoidPerson 225
13. THE ACHIEVEMENT OF IDENTITY 232
Unmasking theRole 234
Self-assertion 241
Transference, Resistance,and
Countertransference 248
14. THEEGOANDTHE BODY 252
Bewitchment 252
CommunityversusCausality 255
TheConceptualEmotions 260
Knowledgeand Understanding 265
notes 271