WILHELM REICH

Glossary of Terms

bions- tiny globules of energy held in a membrane, discovered by Reich and believed by him to emit a life-giving radiation. Reich believed that bions were an intermediate stage between living and dead tissue and that they could be created from anthing that could be made to swell and break down.

character analysis- a form of psychoanalytic therapy developed by Reich.

character armor- coined by Reich; the psychological and physical "armor" individuals develop in order to repress the excess amounts of energy which have built up inside them due to a lack of enough gratifying sexual experiences, which release the energy.

cloudbuster- device invented by Reich in order to combat DOR, it consisted of 5 hollow pipes gounded in water, which were purported to be able draw DOR (see below) out of the atmosphere and into the water.

deadly orgone (DOR)- believed by Reich to be the result of the effect of nuclear radiation on orgone energy. It is supposedly a black, lusterless, toxic substance that carries a high charge and is attracted to water and oxygen.

libido stasis- the build-up of excess sexual energy that causes neuroses. Reich felt that libido stasis could be cured through gratifying sexual experiences.

medical DOR-buster- a cloudbuster modified for use on humans in order to move energy stuck in muscular contractions (see "character armor" above) with the intent of treating neuroses.

orgastic potency- the capacity to experience a gratifying sexual experience. Orgasm is a necessary but not sufficient condition for this experience; the organism must be able to completely discharge all excess energy and "surrender" itself entirely to the experience.

orgone energy- organic or "life-energy" that Reich believed surrounded all living things and could be found free in the atmosphere. He believed it was released during orgasm, and that it was comparable to the Medieval concept of ether.

orgone energy accumulator (ORAC)- a device developed by Reich to capture and intensify orgone energy, it consisted of a wooden box or small cabin lined with metal. Reich believed these boxes were of therapeutic value, able to cure a variety of afflictions. He later sold and rented orgone accumulators to the medical field.

Reichian therapy/vegetative therapy/character-analytic vegetotherapy- a system of body- or touch-based therapy which aims at relaxing muscular armor directly in order to release pent-up energy and emotions.