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In 1927 in Vienna W. Reich, a young psychiatrist and a psychoanalyst trained in Freud s circle, exposed in his second book "Die Function des Orgasmus" (1) the basic outlines of his Theory of Orgasm. Years later he wil write: "There is no doubt that in certain circles a great effort has been made so that the Characteranalysis becomes accepted without the Theory of Orgasm. Nevertheless, whoever has thouroly studied characteranalysis must have understood the impossibility of detachting the Theory of Orgasm from the function held by the formation of human character" (Reich, 1950).

To start from Reich means to start from his Theory of Orgasm, fundamental idea of his Sex-economy, from which Reich himself subsequently developed what he defined as Orgonomic Functionalism. In psychoanalytic circles Reich had already had some confrontations before the publication of the book: "In 1925 as I presented my report On Genitality there followed a deadly silence in the room. One could be neurotic and lead a healthy sexual life. Nobody had any idea about the Theory of Orgasm (Reich, 1942). In 1928 Freud himself wrote in a letter to Andreas Salomé a note on the book mentioned: "Here we have a Dr. Reich. A brave though young knight-errand that worships the genital orgasm as an antidote aganist the death instinct".

Following the Theory of the libido as was presented by Freud in this writings until 1920, Reich starts from the principle that "the sexual function is the core of the vital function" (Reich, 1927). This sexual function allows the functioning of the living organism. However, one should bear in mind that when speaking about sexuality, we are in fact speaking about the capacity for pleasure and to enjoy life in all its manifestations. There is no life without sexuality. Although the latter can take different forms. From the compulsive cleaning of a housewife who claims that she "feels nothing during sexual intercourse with her husband" and does no need "that", to the masochist practices of a nun in her "mystical trascendence" with the figure of Christ, or the juggling of a celibate faquir. All of these are sexual manifestations detachted from their original function, the function of the Orgasm. Therefore, we define sexuality as an instinct and sexual manifestations as "drives". The former is innate an biological, whereas the latter are determined by cultural factors. And in sexuality both of them are more outstanding than in other instincts, which cannot be altered in form, and in which only the ritual changes (eating, sleeping...).

Therefore, the way in which each "human animal" developes his or her own sexuality is determined by the ecosystem, taking into account that the human animal s first ecosystem is the mother- womb and, later, the triangle breast-mother-father, the family cell, the school, the media and the social framework. Thus, and using a more specific terminology, sexual behaviour is determined by the objectal relationship, the mother s biophysical condition and the economic organization of the social framework.

Using Reich s own words, the instinct sexuality becomes a secondary drive because "we come into this world with a certain amount of libido which will be shaped by the social organization" (Reich, 1955). That is to say, there exists an impulse based on instinct force hat allows the development and subsequent maturity of the sexual function and the well-balanced maturity of the different functions in the human animal. The Orgasm function supports this process.

Orgasm, condemned word, equivocal, prejudiced, that rises strong responses and is fundamental in the understanding of vital processes. First in 1934 with his experiements on the "electrosphysiological variations in the organism", and later in 1936 with his "bioelectric experiences on pleasure and anxiety", Reich proved that unpleasure reduces this charge. Thus, the same mechanical physiological reaction that causes the climax in adults, men and women, can appear in conjunction with a peripheral charge or with a decreased charge. This phenomenon coincided with the volunteer s degree of neurosis. That is to say, the genital manifestations (vaginal moisture, penis erection, blushing of the skin) appeared in the same degree both in individuals that could really experience pleasure and had the capacity for vegetative self abandon during the peak and in those whose capacity for pleasure and to give in were decreased. Thus, Reich s theory of differentiating between genital potency and orgastic potency was objectively proved. Very seldom are these works quoted and most of them have been translated into English and Italian only recently, though they are basic in the understanding of Reich s concept of Orgasm.

This theory has many implications in biophysics, in society and in the clinical practice. But it seems necessary to review a few more points before going into this last issue.

During the following years, Reich reached the conclusion that the function of the Orgasm is a vital formula found under a different form in all living organisms (see "Die Bione" or "The Cancer Biopathy"), whose role is to regulate the sexual economy, therefore, the vital functioning of each organism. And although sexuality adopts different forms, it does not fulfill its function unless the experience of the orgasm takes place periodically. This formula (Tension-Charge-Discharge-Relaxation) is connected with the idea of expansion and "going-far-beyond". It is also found in unicellular beings (mitosis) as well as in more complex organisms such as mammals and human animals. The latter has more specialized organs for this purpose: the neuro-vegetative system, the neurohormonal system, the septum encephalic, the reticular formation and the gonadal system.

These are the tools used by human animals to perform the same function, as in the amoeba or in the zygote: expansion. This expansion serves to discharge the surplus of energy in the organism . Whenever this discharge fails to occur, the excess of energy builds up, the result being the libidinal stasis. This is the actual somatic core of neurosis, that, in conjunction with the psychoneurosis, form what was defined by Reich as "character neurosis", that is, the disturbance of the function that serves to keep a state of equilibrium within the perturbered organism, sustains character and muscular armor. Thus, the ego potential* becomes chronically stiff, allowing social adaptation.

Likewise, the sexual functioning and the human organism will not reach maturity in its multiple physical and psychological functions unless the orgasm takes place from the zygote, later in the mitosis, the growing foetus, the "oral orgasm" (Reich, 1948), resulting from the relationship between the suckling s mouth and the mother s nipple, and finally in the genital orgasm, by means of fusion and the genital embrance. Thus, the orgasm is expressed in a repeated CONVULSION of the organism as a WHOLE. *According to Reich ego and character do not coincide. Character is the armor of the ego.

This applies to all animal life. So, the orgasm is not a local genital phenomenon. The genitals play the role of mere triggers in the general and total convulsion... Therefore, the function of the orgasm represents a problem in the functioning of the ORGANISM AS A WHOLE IN TERMS OF BIONENERGETICS... "where the orgastic convulsion is an expression of the protoplasmatic process of charge and discharge, and consequently independent of the existence of a formed nervous system that in fact performs it" (Reich, 1950).

Thus, we have seen that the Orgasm responds to a biophysic and bioenergetic need and not, by any means, something strictly related to the experience described in sexology handbooks, and considered here as the "peak" in the adult relationship.

According to Reich, there are no differences between men and women in terms of orgastic capacity, besides, both can be equally active during the whole sexual encounter. Even during the union of the penis and the vagina in the "genital embrance" (Reich, 1954), the vagina can "suck" the penis, retain it and feel the pleasure of the organ while the man can experience the pleasure of the woman s activity. But this will only take place in the individual has organ sensibility, capacity for contact, vegetative self abandon and to feel fully physical pleasure and if social prejudices aganist sexual union have been overcomed.

A number of factors restrains this orgastic experience in the human animal. That is why we speak of orgastic impotence or "orgastic dysfunction", which is the origin of the attitudes and and forms of behavior described in sexology handbooks. These are:

a) Learned (sexual techniques).

b) Depending on the individual s CHARACTER STRUCTURE (Reich, 1933), such as sado-masochist attitude of vaginal passivity ("no feeling"); phallic behaviour of vaginal penetration behavior; "dramatizationg of sexual joy" (genital potency and multiorgasms); psychic fixations bound to partial objects that give pleasure (fetichism, rape, pedophilia...)

c) Failure to reproduce a mechanical function (genital activity, perception of physical contact) that causes the so called sexual dysfunctions: impotence, orgastic dysfunctions...)

All these are the result of an ORGASMIC DYSFUNCTION, that is, the incapability of experiencing the protoplasmatic and bioenergetic expansion of the organism. This leads to sexual stasis and mantains character and muscular armoring. That is why, Serrano in one of his articles (Serrano), compares those who claim that to achieve an orgasm in this society is possible with those who "ideologically" and hence "mystifyingly" claim that it is possible to "love" or be "free". For in the present society childen s healthy and natural sexuality is made void, even from the very first stages of development, that is, in the intrauterine life (Serrano, Pinuaga, Navarro, 1988). The result is resignation and submission. Therefore, the adult biosystem cannot be expected to enjoy neither its full capacity for contact nor pleasure or joy, nor to achieve orgasms, live in freedom and good health nor to love. And whenever this takes place it is under the form of what Reich called "pseudo-contact".

Thus, although the concept of orgasm is present in all Reich s works and he speaks of genitality as the emotional and psychological stage of maturity essential to reach orgastic potency, we do not praise orgasms or "shags" either, nor the idea that one can experience pleasure only when there is pentration. We do not praise the domain of the phallus over the woman, and such rubbish that some people ignorant of this discourse and hence destructively have stated. We think that the aim of a relationsihip should never be to achieve an orgasm, but to have body contact, pleasure, the cerempony of affective communication, to enjoy the partner s company and with the partner. THE ORGASM IS NOT SEEKED, BUT COMES DURING THE SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP. ANY SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP IS ACCEPTABLE WHENEVER PHYSICAL PLEASURE WITH THE PARTNER IS FELT.

To reach the genital character and to restore orgastic potency are daily clinical goals. These are achieved by those who have successfully carried out vegetotherapy and by those children that live under conditions that protect and stimulate their natural functions (Pinuaga, 1988), which is not the rule but the exception. Therefore, for us each individual has his or her own sexuality, that takes a different form and a different conduct ways according to the following:

-The present element (personal and environmental influencies).

-The character structure of the individual.

-In connection with the last point, the historical elements that confirm the existence of certain muscular and characterial blocks.

According to these three factors, each person has a certain capacity for pleasure and a way of developing it, and within these forms we situate sexual relationships, which will assume a certain form according to the elements above mentioned. Thus, a woman with a important oral base and a narcissistic coverture will probably prefer lesbian relationships, since she feels more pleasure , due to historical factors: maternal defficiency, rejection towards the father... Likewise, a man with a phallic-narcissistic coverture will experience more pleasure in the conquest of women always inferior to himself. With these conquests, that take place in bed, he confirms his superiority, since he "gives" them "pleasure", and he avoids those women that seek to please him. And there is pleasure, of course. But it is conditioned. It is a secondary drive, since it is the result of CHARACTER and of the ORGASTIC DYSFUNCTION that started in the intrauterine life (mother s stress, difficult labor, unsatisfied oral activity, fear of castration caused by the father) and is influenced by the present factors of sexual confusion and lack of information. This prevents the individual from developing sexuality s basic function: that is, to mantain the homeoestasis and bioenergetic self-regulation, that gives the organism its ego potentiality and health. Let us remember the connection between orgstic dystunctions and a great part of the "biopathic and psychosomatic perturbances" (Reich, 1948; Navarro, 1987).

With this discourse, based on the practice of characteroanalitical vegetotherapy and on the orgonomic profilaxis in children and on orgonomic scientific experimentation, it is clear that WE DO NOT APPRAISE WHAT IS GOOD OR BAD; we do no designe a sexual pattern of behavior, but we locate sexual conduct under certain clinical coordinates that enable us to understand its functionality. And this influences decisively our clinical work, and our understanding of sexual "dysfunctions", sexuality, sexology and the therapeutic handling of these dysfuncitons. For genitality and orgasms cannot be "accomplished" or "reached" through will power or mechanical techniques. They are a capacity the every organism HAS, BUT THAT HAS BEEN RESTRAINED. Either it is there or it is not there. What there will always exist is sexuality and, definetively, whatever gives joy without harming others is positive and desirable. Let us frame everything under a unitarian logic and see that joy, capacity for pleasure, and the way one feels oneself within the relationship is usually limitied and subdued to character structure, muscular armor and orgastic impotence. It is one more element that hurts our deep narcissitic wound, but at the same time enables us to situate more realistically our capacities and our daily life and sexuality.

That is why, the so called sexual dysfunctions pertain to those perturbances caused by an ORGASTIC DYSFUNCTION. In these cases, the individual becomes aware of his or her specifically genital sexual dysfunction due to the partner s demands and, therefore, again as a narcissistic mechanism, or due to the impossibility of compensating that genital dysfunction with other social activities that that "subliminate" sexuality (compulsive work, mysticism, extreme altruism...). This is not to say that, from the biophysical and bioenergetic point of view, an individual with no erective problems has a greater capacity for pleasure that someone who has such difficulties. In the later case the orgastic dysfuncion has taken the form of a mechanical genital dysfuncion due to present circumstancies depending on his character and armor. How many women enjoy epidermic contact with their partners, but cannot reach a peak (anorgasmy)! However, they feel much more pleasure than those who never have "sexual problems" and reach many "peaks", but whose epidermic perception and joy during the sexual relationship is decreased. The latter is "normal" and acts according to mechanicistic demands impossed by the social framework, and, therefore, by her partner and by herself. Or the warded- off homosexual, who would enjoy more a relationship with another man, but who has a relationship with a woman in order to show off, pretending to be heterosexual. He experiencies less pleasure and joy than another individual who accepts his drives and live his homosexuality without prejudices (Serrano, 86).

Therefore, the problem raised here is deeper and should not be reduced to a mere attempt to domesticate ("normalize") the subject under certain conventions that assumedly releive his anxiety of being different, but that nevertheless sustains an illussion and mantains the confussion of sexual vital processes. This results in the mantainace of the social framework, since it creates some "artificial paradises", where everything is possible, but without reaching the essential or touching the real.

Moereover, the same symtom or sexual dysfunction can vary in meaning and logic, according to the different charater structures. We shall briefly describe this clinical statement (Serrano, 1990).

-Neurotic character structure (Serrano, 87-88): with well differentiated traits. The basic conflictual reference had its origin in the oedipical relationship. The former depends on the present circumstancies, such as the existence of a satisfactory or compensatory relation with a partner, a well paid job... We find well-developed general sexual roles in accordance with social demands (masculine-femenine). The main purpose of the relationship is the satisfaction of unsatisfied drives (incestuous relation) resulting in the subsequent dependency on the sexual object, under the form "I give you pleasure" (strong narcissistic component) or "you are for me" (dominating position).

In neurotic-histeric structures with an oral base (more frequent among women) anorgasmy is common, although is not usually manifested, the subject being sometimes not even aware of if, due to the character "dramatization". Ocassionally, excitation waves can be even misinterpreted as "peaks" or "orgasms" (multiorgasm). As a result of the congestion in the pelvis, the patiente suffers frequently and for no apparent reason from vaninal infections, cystitis, dyspaurenia and painful coitus (Navarro, 1987).

- In the phallic-narcissistic character, more frequently found in men due to cultural factors, there is distinctly erective potency, though paired with orgastic impotence and a decreased perception of pleasure in the genitals and in the whole body. It is the model of "potent virility". There exists a warded-off sadistic drive agaist women, never openly expressed and mantained by a strong anal tension that usually causes haemorroids or anal fissures. In such cases during the process of vegetotherapy there clearly appears the desire of destroying the woman in conjunction with fear of castration. Logicallly, this rage is never expressed directly, but, on the contrary, the man is seductive and pleasant to women. It is in this conquest where his sado-masochist drive is developed CHARACTERIALLY. There also appear compulsive traits, which are more obssessive.

We find occassional episodes of premature ejaculation as a result of the constant overcharge of the pelvis.

- Masochist compulsive characters are often clasified into boderline structures due to the pre-genital fixations. As a result of the cervic-toracic armor, in these characters sexual behaviour is stereotyped and the motor discharge, minimal. Therefore, the pre-genital experience becomes more important. There appear episodes of erective impotence and pretended "frigidity" but under the cover of being the victim "you are not to give me pleasure, whatever you do" (sadomasochistic behaviour with an oral base).

- In the borderline character structure, (Serrano, 1990) (neurotic character coverture, but with a warded-off psychotic or depressive core sustained by that coverture) sexual dysfunctions are more visible, although the subject is less worried about them. Thus, women with a psychotic core and a histeric coverture often suffer from vaginal anaesthesia and frigidity, since it has been materially impossible to reach the oedipical conflict with a libidinal charge. It has served rather to compensate her for her oral ambivalence. Therefore, even when there is a relationship with a man, a woman is sought. If there is a narcissitic coverture , there is often a tendency towards lesbianism and the need develope a feminist ideologocial justification to defend her inclinations (independence from the penis, clitoric pleasure...).

When the coverture is masochist, there are usually homosexual inclination, while the subject adopts a passive attitude. There is also erective impotence in men and frigidity and vaginismus in women. These cases need deep treatment, since the problem has its roots in the oral phase, that is to say, the relationship with the maternal object, and therefore, in some instances, in a pre-verbal period. Thus, it is essential to work to a neurovegetative level following Reich s methodology, specially when the movilization of the three first segments is being elaborated (Reich, 193 ).

The armor in these first segments constrains the capacity for physical eroginization, consequently mechanical techniques such as sensitive masage to achieve physical sensitilation are useless... Which does no occur in the neurotic structure.

According to the theory of characteroanalitical vegetotherapy, these are the clinical principles that make it possible to widen our knowledge on the clinical dynamics to be followed by the psychotherapist.

- In the psychotic structure (Serrano, 1990) the preset situation is the patience s referential base, since there is not a well-structured character. If there is a maternage situation in the relationship with the partner or at work... The deficiency often sustains the crisis.

The armor in the first segment and the sense organs constrains the perception of pleasure. However, and as a result of this, the patietce at certain moments can have great sexual experiences due to a perturbance of the melatonin secreted by the pineal gland. Sexual and even proper genital relationships are sought with certain compulsivity, since they substitute the relation penis-vagina with the deficient relation mouth-mother s nipple and, certain attempt of going back to the uterus,according to Ferenzy. In such cases we find episodes of satiriasis and ninfomania, under a totally different logic from other histeric and phallic-narcissistic structures. In psychotic structures genital activity becomes a way of displace an action, with a distinct primitive base of search of a maternage, either with an heterosexual or with an homosexual object (as in lesbianism). There can also occur extreme cases of criminal pathology (rape, sexual crimes, etc...). Sexual dysfunctions in such cases need to be located under a deep and careful treatment, in which the aim of domesticating the symnton is forgotten, and in which a bound with the therapist is created, allowing the maternage in a "new space".

Finally, and following the course of this article, I shall describe briefly the therapeutic action proposed in this health field by our post-reichinian school:

A) Taking into account the fact that the core of our limitations for pleasure -in which sexual dysfunctions are only one of its forms only- lies in the disturbance of the orgasm function starting from the intrauterine life, we as professionals and as an institution support social changes as well as those laws that make it possible a healthy development from very early childhood since we are aware of the fact that social, cultural, and economic factors, and the new sexual social code, in conjunction with sexual information are the cause of a increasing awareness of the presence of a sexual conflict.

B) We also undertand that not everybody can be treated individually during a long period of time, as the process of characteroanalitical vegetotheray requires, since Reich s methedology is a deep approach. Therefore, we provide mental health professionals in private and public centers with briefer therapies. That is to say, means for diagnosis (Borderline structure, Neurotic structure and Psychotic structure) and therapuetic action. Our clinical practice is coherent and enables the patience to develope his/her vital dynamics and asserts his/her own self. This allows the patience to situate him/herself under the real logic of the symtomn and of his/her own sexuality, and to individualize the relationship. Due to the nature of the therapeutic relationship and the physical means used, this procedure usually permits to increase his/her capacity for perception (work on the first segment), his/her capacity for epidermic contact and for communication with the partner (second segment), and to reduce the anxiety caused by the narcissistic need to succeed (third segment), and finally, to increase his/her capacity to enjoy his/her sexuality (fifth segment and breathing) and sexual identity (seven segment).

C) Those who wish it or in certain cases of absolute necessity (as in bordeline psychotic structures) have the opportunity of carrying out the process of personal characteroanalitical vegetotherapy (Navarro, 1990), in which the basic tools are: the therapeutical space and the neuromuscular "actings" that enable the emotional abbreaction; the integration of what has been experienced, through free association and verbalization; the progressive and methodical disarmoring of the seven segments; working first on the pregenital ones (ocular, oral cervical- toracic) before approaching the genital (diafragm-pelvis). Character becomes more flexible and the ego, stronger. Orgastic capacity is restored as a result of the genitalization process. This reflects the integration of different functions (Reich, 1944; Serrano, 1984) and the capacity to bear plasmatic contractions and the subsequent capacity for contact. This is the base of the individual s health. All this has to be achieved in the number of individual sessions needed, and in conjunction with group work introduced at a precise moment during the analysis. During this process the quality of the sexuality, the sexual relationship and the capacity for pleasure changes. And as a consecuence, the form and the quality. The fundamental point is the way in which the subject experiences a process is which he/she gradually recongnizes his/her potential for pleasure, his/her joy for life, and the way his/her character has prevented him/her to act functionally, while he/she developed mechanisms and relations that, when viewed deeply, were harmful and against his/her own biological rhythm. From that moment on the so called sexual dysfunctions dissapear, since they have no purpose. There is no need to look for pre-establised sexual patterns of behaviour. THE PATIENCE LIVES HER/HIS OWN SEXUALITY AND FEELS SHE/HE HAS THE CAPACITY TO LOOK FOR THE MEANS THAT ALLOW ITS DEVELOPMENT. SHE/HE ENJOYS ORGASTIC POTENCY, AND WHEN THE NEED IS FELT, THE MEANS TO DEVELOPE IT ARE SOUGHT...

It is our function as Orgontherapists (Post-Reichinian Therapists) to help to restore the Orgasm function, and with a bio-social view, to restore the potential of the own sexuality and "contact". Therefore, we need to work on clinical sexuality, but from the multifunctional view I have tried to expose in this article.

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"La alteración biopática". Journal "Energía, Caráter y Sociedad", Valencia, 1988.

S. PINUAGA, MAITE: "Estudio de control de profilaxis orgonómica en la primera infancia". Journal "Energía, Carácter y Sociedad", Valencia, 1988.

"La Orgonterapia prenatal", journal "Energía, Carácter y Sociedad", Valencia, 1988. Vol. 6, nº 1.

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(1936) "Resultados experimentales sobre la sexualidad y angustia". Translation into Spanish idem.

(1934-36) "La revolución sexual". Edit. Ruedo Ibérico.

(1942) "La función del orgasmo". First part of The Discovery of the Orgon. Edit. Paidós.

(1948) "La biopatía del cáncer". Edit. Nueva Visión, 1985.

(1950) "Desarrollo histórico del funcionalismo orgonómico". Translation into Spanish in the library of the Es.Te.R.

(1954) "El asesinato de Cristo". Edit. Bruguera.

SERRANO, XAVIER (1983) "Orgasmo y carácter genital". Journal "Energia, Carácter y Sociedad". Vol. 1 nº12.

(1984) "Estructuración energética corporal. Fases sexuales y vegeoterapia". Journal "Energía, Caracter y Sociedad". Vol 2, nº 1.

(1986) "La Vegetoterapia y las disfunciones sexuales". Journal "Energía, Carácter y Sociedad". Vol. 4 nº 1 and 2.

(1987) "Aportaciones de W. Reich y la Orgonomía a la Teoría sexual y la terapéutica sexológica". Notes from a course under the same title. Valencia 1987.

(1988) "Perpectivas orgonterapéuticas de la vida intrauterina". Journal "Energía, Carácter y Sociedad". Vol. 6 nº 1

(1992) "El/la orgonterapeuta y la sexología clínica". Journal "Energía, Carácter y Sociedad". Vol. 10 (1 and 2).

(1992) "Psicoterapia breve caracteroanalítica". Journal, "Energía, Carácter y Sociedad", Vol. 10 (1 and 2).

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