Wilhelm Reich was an Austrian-born American psychoanalyst and doctor of medicine, known as a radical figure in the history of psychiatry. He was a member of the second generation of analysts after Sigmund Freud.

Reich authored several influential books, including The Impulsive Character (1925), The Function of the Orgasm (1927), Character Analysis (1933), and The Mass Psychology of Fascism (1933). His work contributed significantly to the development of psychoanalysis, especially regarding character structure, adolescent sexuality, and the synthesis of psychoanalysis with Marxism.

He introduced the concept of "orgone energy"—a term he coined from "orgasm" and "organism"—and developed the controversial orgone accumulators, which he claimed had health benefits. His radical views and inventions led to conflict with authorities, resulting in legal battles and imprisonment.

Reich's literary and theoretical contributions have influenced various fields, including body psychotherapy, Gestalt therapy, and bioenergetic analysis. His legacy includes both significant admiration for his ideas and substantial criticism.