The Sexual Revolution - Wilhelm Reich

First published in 1936, The Sexual Revolution may in some respects appear to have been overtaken by events, for many of Reich’s critiques of what he termed ‘com-pulsive moralism’, with which he outraged his contempor-aries, have become part of the liberal intellectual back-ground. However, in these days of promiscuity and rebel-lion, his polemical views on sexual repression and its social, political and economic consequences are more relevant than when they first appeared.

Reich’s most original contribution to the study of sexuality was his concept of ‘orgastic potency’ and his emphasis on the importance of quality in sexual life. His distinction between repression originating from parental authority and natural morality based on self-regulation is a central theme of the book.

Wilhelm Reich (1897-1957), once Fred’s favourite pupil, was to earn expulsion from the Psychoanalytic Organization for his insistence on the political significance of sex. His last years were spent in the United States in the service of the Orgone Institute, which he founded. He developed some unorthodox medical ideas from his theory of ‘orgone energy and was prosecuted by the American Food and Drug Administration for fraud. He died while undergoing imprisonment for contempt of court.