The Voice of the Body: The Role of the Body in Psychotherapy

by Alexander Lowen

Objective thinking becomes most difficult when a person attempts to be objective about his own behavior. Since behavior is largely determined by feelings, a person has to be cognizant of his feelings to evaluate his behavior objectively. For example, if a person is unaware of his hostility, he will explain the negative reactions he meets by other people's ill feelings. He cannot, of course, see his actions as others see them and he will be unable to assess his role in provoking a negative response. Unaware of his hidden emotions and motives, he cannot be fully objective about himself. The eye of the intellect can only evaluate the logic of one's reasoning. On the other hand, if a person is conscious of his feelings and can express them subjectively, he can take an objective position: he can say, for example, “I realize that I am hostile and I can see why people are reacting negatively to me.” True objectivity requires a proper subjectivity.

What does it mean to be human? It means basically to be helpless and in need. In the most important aspects of life, a human being is helpless. He didn't ask to be born and he has no control over when he will die. He cannot choose with whom to fall in love. He is not master of his own fate. His helplessness is tolerable because all human beings are in the same boat, all share a common fate. And each one needs the others to counter the darkness, to keep out the cold, to provide a meaning to existence. We each need others to provide the light, the warmth, the excitement and the challenge of a human community. Only within the human community dare we face the terrifying unknown.