psychodynamicbioenergetics.com lotype

Psychodynamic Foundations of Bioenergetic Analysis

Experiencing, Understanding and Healing the Body and the Mind
1-1-2 The Search for Truthfulness and the Pursuit of Self-Actualization/ Die Suche nach Wahrhaftigkeit und das Streben nach Selbstverwirklichung
Volume 1 Part 1: Body-Awareness and Human Growth Chapter 1.2

The Search for Truthfulness and the Pursuit of Self-Actualization

Christoph Helferich

This essay describes how the search for truthfulness and the pursuit of self-actualization have developed since around the middle of the last century. This period can be divided into three sections. In the heyday of Humanistic Psychology (ca. 1950–1970), the concept of self-actualization stands for a holistic, life-encompassing project in which the encounter between therapist and patient is based on personal sincerity. In Bioenergetics, truthfulness and self-actualization are closely linked to the bodily self, and their successful form is reflected as grace. In the postmodern phase (ca. 1970–2000), the long-term contexts of work, family and relationship life become questionable, while at the same time, a strong emancipatory desire for alternative ways of life emerges, allowing a greater scope for individual lifestyles. Around the year 2000, the digital penetration of the living environment sounded the bell for the phase of performative self-actualization, which is characterized by a strong need for media-based self-expression. In this development towards the virtual, the significance of bodily presence remains open.

Link to the original publication at Routledge

  • Self-actualization and truthfulness are closely intertwined. Even a life that appears to be personally and socially successful can turn out to be a failure if it is not truthful.
  • Since the Enlightenment, the self-actualization of the individual has occupied a central position in the value system of modern societies. However, the term itself must remain undefined in terms of content.
  • In the second half of the last century, self-actualization became the guiding concept of Humanistic Psychology, which aims to take full advantage of the human potential.
  • With Gestalt Therapy and Client-Centered Psychotherapy, Fritz Perls and Carl Rogers developed a specifically humanistic form of therapy in the second half of the last century, based on the encounter between client and therapist.
  • Alexander Lowen’s Bioenergetic Analysis deepens the humanistic approach by closely linking self-actualization and authenticity to bodily self-experience. The aim of Bioenergetic Analysis is grace that expresses itself in the personality.
  • In the postmodern era (ca. 1970-2000), self-actualization as a guiding concept becomes problematic, as long-term life projects tied to career and family are questionable in the fleeting modern age. At the same time, emancipatory forces such as the student and women’s movements create a new freedom for personally designed lifestyles.
  • In the digital phase of our society (from around 2000), the theme of self-actualization shifts towards the performative self-presentation of personal specialness in social media, and the significance of a bodily presence becomes increasingly questionable.
Download all questions/answers as PDF

Instructions for the Quiz

  • Simply click on the answer you think is correct.
  • You’ll see right away whether your answer was correct.
  • Then, click the button to the right of the status bar to move on to the next question.
  • At the end of the quiz, you can easily review all the questions and answers in a summary table.

Enjoy the challenge!

Altmeyer, M. (2019). Auf der Suche nach Resonanz [In Search of Resonance]. Zeitschrift für Psychoanalyse und ihre Anwendungen, 73(9/10):801–825.

Bauman, Z. (2003 [2000]). Flüchtige Moderne [Original title: Liquid Modernity]. Frankfurt a.M.: Suhrkamp.

Beck, U. (1986). Risikogesellschaft. Auf dem Weg in eine andere Moderne [Risk Society. Towards a Different Modernity]. Frankfurt a.M.: Suhrkamp.

Boadella, D. (1995). Emotionen in der Körperpsychotherapie – ihre Bedeutung und Handhabung im therapeutischen Prozeß [Emotions in Body-Psychotherapy – Their Significance and Handling in the Therapeutic Process]. In H.G. Petzold (Ed.), Die Wiederentdeckung des Gefühls. Emotionen in der Psychotherapie und der menschlichen Entwicklung [The Rediscovery of the Feeling. Emotions in Psychotherapy and Human Development] (p. 519–547). Paderborn: Junfermann.

Bocian, B. (2007). Fritz Perls in Berlin 1893–1933 [Fritz Perls in Berlin 1893–1933]. Wuppertal: Peter Hammer Verlag.

Böhme, G. (2003). Leibsein als Aufgabe. Leibphilosophie in pragmatischer Hinsicht [The Challenge of Being a Body. Body-Philosophy in Pragmatic Terms]. Kusterdingen: Die Graue Edition Verlag.

Böhme, G. & Böhme, R. (2021). Über das Unbehagen im Wohlstand [On the Discomfort in Prosperity]. Frankfurt a.M.: Suhrkamp.

Buber, M. (1984 [1923]). Ich und Du [I and Thou]. In M. Buber, Das Dialogische Prinzip [The Dialogical Principle] (p. 5–136). Heidelberg: Lambert Schneider.

Ehrenberg, A. (2008 [1998]). Das erschöpfte Selbst. Depression und Gesellschaft in der Gegenwart [Original title: Weariness of the Self. Diagnosing the History of Depression in the Contemporary Age]. Frankfurt a.M.: Suhrkamp.

Franck, G. (1998). Ökonomie der Aufmerksamkeit. Ein Entwurf [Economy of Attention. A Draft]. München: Hanser Verlag.

Freud, S. (1913c). Zur Einleitung der Behandlung. Weitere Ratschläge zur Technik der Psychoanalyse I. GW VIII [On Initiating the Treatment. Further Advice on the Technique of Psychoanalysis I], 454–478.

Fuchs, T. (2020). Verteidigung des Menschen. Grundfragen einer verkörperten Anthropologie [Defending the Human. Fundamental Questions of an Embodied Anthropology]. Frankfurt a.M.: Suhrkamp.

Fuchs, T., Iwer, L. & Micali, S. (2018). Das überforderte Subjekt. Zeitdiagnosen einer beschleunigten Gesellschaft [The Overwhelmed Subject. Diagnoses of an Accelerated Society]. Frankfurt a.M.: Suhrkamp.

Geuter, U. (2023). Körperpsychotherapie. Grundriss einer Theorie für die klinische Praxis [Body-Psychotherapy. Outline of a Theory for Clinical Practice]. Berlin/New York: Springer.

Goethe, J.W. von (1968 [1796]). Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre. Goethes Werke, Band VII (Hamburger Ausgabe, 7. Auflage) [Wilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship. Goethe’s Works, Volume VII]. Hamburg: Christian Wegner Verlag.

Goldstein, K. (2014 [1934]). Der Aufbau des Organismus. Einführung in die Biologie unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Erfahrungen am kranken Menschen [Original title: The Organism: A Holistic Approach to Biology Derived from Pathological Data in Man]. Paderborn: Wilhelm Fink Verlag.

Heidegger, M. (1972 [1927]). Sein und Zeit [Being and Time]. Tübingen: Max Niemeyer Verlag.

Helferich, C. (2012). Geschichte der Philosophie. Von den Anfängen bis zur Gegenwart und Östliches Denken (4., erw. Auflage, mit einem Beitrag von Peter Christian Lang) [History of Philosophy. From the Beginnings to the Present and Eastern Thought]. Stuttgart: Metzler Verlag.

Helferich, C. (2015). Body and Body-Psychotherapy in the Global Village. Bioenergetic Analysis, 25:19–40.

Helferich, C. (2022). You are Your Body. Considerations on the Relation between Self and Body. Bioenergetic Analysis, 32:135–144.

Keleman, S. (1987). Bonding. A Somatic-Emotional Approach to Transference. Berkeley: Center Press.

Kierkegaard, S. (1997 [1848]). Die Krankheit zum Tode [The Sickness Unto Death]. Ditzingen: Reclam.

Lang, P.C. (2012). Lebendige Philosophie: Debatten und Kontroversen der 1970er und 1980er Jahre [Living Philosophy: Debates and Controversies of the 1970s and 1980s]. In C. Helferich, Geschichte der Philosophie. Von den Anfängen bis zur Gegenwart und Östliches Denken (4., erw. Auflage, mit einem Beitrag von Peter Christian Lang) [History of Philosophy. From the Beginnings to the Present and Eastern Thought] (p. 437–472). Stuttgart: Metzler Verlag.

Lowen, A. & Lowen, L. (1979 [1977]). Bioenergetik für Jeden. Das vollständige Übungshandbuch [Original title: The Way to Vibrant Health (1977)]. München: Kirchheim Verlag.

Lowen, A. (1979 [1970]). Lust. Der Weg zum kreativen Leben. [Original title: Lust. The Way to a Creative Life (1970)]. München: Kösel.

Lowen, A. (1979 [1975]). Bioenergetik. Therapie der Seele durch Arbeit mit dem Körper [Original title: Bioenergetics]. Reinbek: Rowohlt.

Lowen, A. (2008 [1984]). Was ist Bioenergetische Analyse? [What is Bioenergetic Analysis?]. In V. Heinrich-Clauer (Ed.), Handbuch Bioenergetische Analyse [Handbook of Bioenergetic Analysis] (p. 31–47). Gießen: Psychosozial-Verlag.

Lyotard, J.-F. (1986 [1979]). Das Postmoderne Wissen. Ein Bericht [Original title: The Postmodern Condition. A Report on Knowledge]. Wien: Passagen Verlag.

MacIntyre, A. (1995 [1981]). Der Verlust der Tugend. Zur moralischen Krise der Gegenwart [Original title: After Virtue (1981)]. Frankfurt a.M.: Suhrkamp.

Maslow, A.H. (1981 [1954]). Motivation und Persönlichkeit [Original title: Motivation and Personality (1954)]. Reinbek: Rowohlt Taschenbuch.

Maslow, A.H. (2010 [1962]). Toward a Psychology of Being. Mansfield Centre: Martino Publishing.

Perls, F. (1980 [1966]). Gestalttherapie und die menschlichen Potenziale [Gestalt Therapy and Human Potential]. In H. Petzold (Ed.), Friedrich S. Perls: Gestalt – Wachstum – Integration. Aufsätze, Vorträge, Therapiesitzungen [Friedrich S. Perls: Gestalt – Growth – Integration. Essays, Lectures, Therapy Sessions] (p. 149–155). Paderborn: Junfermann.

Quitmann, H. (1996). Humanistische Psychologie (3., überarb. u. erw. Auflage) [Humanistic Psychology]. Göttingen/Bern/Toronto/Seattle: Hogrefe.

Reckwitz, A. (2019). Das Ende der Illusionen. Politik, Ökonomie und Kultur in der Spätmoderne [The End of Illusions – Politics, Economy and Culture in Postmodern Times]. Frankfurt a.M.: Suhrkamp.

Reich, W. (1965 [1927]). Die Funktion des Orgasmus. Zur Psychopathologie und zur Soziologie des Geschlechtslebens [The Function of the Orgasm. The Psychopathology and Sociology of Sexual Life]. Amsterdam: Thomas de Munter.

Rogers, C.R. (1973 [1961]). Entwicklung der Persönlichkeit. Psychotherapie aus der Sicht eines Therapeuten [Original title: On Becoming a Person: A Therapist’s View of Psychotherapy (1961)]. Stuttgart: J.G. Cotta’sche Buchhandlung Nachfolger GmbH.

Schiller, F. (1967a [1793]). Über Anmut und Würde [On Grace and Dignity]. In S. Schiller, Sämtliche Werke, Band V, Erzählungen/Theoretische Schriften (4., durchges. Auflage) [Collected Works, Volume V, Narratives/Theoretical Writings] (p. 433–488). München: Carl Hanser Verlag.

Schiller, F. (1967b [1793]). Über die ästhetische Erziehung des Menschen in einer Reihe von Briefen [On the Aesthetic Education of Man in a Series of Letters]. In S. Schiller, Sämtliche Werke, Band V, Erzählungen/Theoretische Schriften (4., durchges. Auflage) [Collected Works, Volume V, Narratives/Theoretical Writings] (p. 570–669). München: Carl Hanser Verlag.

Schlette, M. (2013). Die Idee der Selbstverwirklichung. Zur Grammatik des modernen Individualismus [The Idea of Self-realization. On the Grammar of Modern Individualism]. Frankfurt/New York: Campus.

Schwäbisch, L. & Siems, M. (1974). Anleitung zum sozialen Lernen für Paare, Gruppen und Erzieher. Kommunikations- und Verhaltenstraining [Social Learning Guide for Couples, Groups and Educators. Communication and Behavioral Training]. Reinbek: Rowohlt.

Tolstoi, L. (2008 [1868]). Der Tod des Iwan Iljitsch [The Death of Ivan Ilyich]. München: Anaconda Verlag.

Weiss, H. (2006). Der Körper und die Wahrheit [The Body and the Truth]. In G. Marlock & H. Weiss (Eds.), Handbuch der Körperpsychotherapie [Handbook of Body-Psychotherapy] (p. 273–280). Stuttgart/New York: Schattauer.

Christoph Helferich
Christoph Helferich

Christoph Helferich lives in Florence/Italy and works in private practice as a bioenergetic psychotherapist (CBT), supervisor and local trainer for...

More chapters

Healing Through or With the Body

Healing Through or With the Body

This essay is a plea for body-exercises and the corresponding confrontation with the life issues and resistances that are triggered by the exercises. The authors take an autoethnographic approach to…
From Drive Orientation to Relationship

From Drive Orientation to Relationship

The concept of functional unity and character structures, rooted in the idea of a biological drive, is inextricably linked to Wilhelm Reich and Alexander Lowen and has been an important…
Body-Interventions

Body-Interventions

This article shows the essential role that body-interventions play in the therapeutic context, and which objectives they can pursue. In order to structure the manifold possibilities of body-intervention in Bioenergetic…
Group-Body-Psycho-Therapy

Group-Body-Psycho-Therapy

In a group, individuals come together with their attitudes, social background, different needs, desires and goals. Through psychological and bodily resonance phenomena between the group members, a common group structure…
Joining and Gilding

Joining and Gilding

First, a brief definition of trauma and the various stages of (complex) post-traumatic stress disorder is given, followed by the neurophysiological principles that are necessary for understanding early developmental disorders…