Customer Reviews

The Betrayal of the Body

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This is Lowen's third and 'break out' book, and it is unlike any other book that exists. It goes right to the core of our suffering as individuals and as a society. It takes courage to read this book. Lowen describes 'the schizoid condition' This has only a little to do with the emergence of schizophrenia in some extreme cases. Rather the schizoid condition is simply the dissociation in our lives between the image and the reality. Reality is perceived, but not really preferred.

Life with schizoid traits (and there are many of us that have some) is characterized by the dissociation of the ego from feeling and from the body. Feelings may be expressed according to what one "should feel" in a given situation, but there is no real spontaneity. What the person thinks seems to have little connection to how the person feels or behaves. The link between desire and impulse is completely broken. This leaves a person both short on impulses, but also at a loss to understand his or her own desires. The will is used to motivate action, which gives the behavior an "as if" quality. The eventual outcome is depression and despair.

Lowen's solution is for the person (that is the ego) to become more associated with the natural life of the body, which is always in the present, and in reality. In this way it is possible to become related to the world and other people. The origin of the problem is usually in early life, but an important topic is how many modern social trends push the individual into this split

questionable validty. Alexander Lowen swore by the process of bioenergetic analysis/exercises. But I seriously doubt the validity of such claims. However, Ive never gone through the process, so I cannot speak for it. I do love Alexander Lowen though... seemed like a decent guy. I think if you are interested in reading the book, then go ahead. If not convinced by the tenants of bioenergetic analysis, you will atleast find some gems of wisdom in this book...

I read Betrayal of the Body in the early seventies & loved it. When I ran across it again on the Internet I just had to get it. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to unite spirit & body.

I worked in an independent outpatient facility in the early 1970's, when Al Lowen was publishing, which ought to give you some idea of the focus involved. Bioenergetics had something to commend it, especially in the 70's, and still does, for people who are experiencing day-to-day stress (so what's new?). But I do not see where the long-term benefit can be had for someone who is really ill: anorexic, paranoid, or psychotic. As with a volcano, venting helps yet doesn't solve the underlying turmoil. As a daily anger (or other) management tool it may be a bandaid but I do not believe it helps in the long run. I can personally testify that bioenergetics did nothing for me, although admittedly my exposure was not consistent. 35 years after the fact, I'm in conventional therapy as well as pharmaceutical treatment for issues that arose while I was working at the facility, aa was my tormentor!