Reichian Character Structures #3.3 Passive Feminine
Rigid Subtype – Male
Appearance & Behaviour
- Soft feminine voice, lacking depth
- Soft, smooth, unlined feminine face
- Soft hands
- Gentle manner, exaggerated politeness, apologising, over-friendly, fake humble
- Lack of assertiveness in body movements
- Shy, hard to be in front of a group
- May have high body flexibility
- Reaction to authority
- Manipulative, cunning
- Phobic, dominated by fear
- Fascination with female body and a desire to be a woman
- Feels tired and lacking enthusiasm
- Hard working
- Low anxiety, contrast masochist
Psychology
- Dominating father, nervous mother
- Trapped in early development. Scared to stand up to Dad. But strong enough not to retreat into being Oral.
- Collapsing in face of father’s authority, contrast 3-1. May project anger onto women, as an easier target.
- In love relationships, sometimes become gay. They tend to either act as a child with an older woman, or as a father with a younger one.
- Tendency towards fears and phobias (lack of ego aggression)
- Geniality blocked by fear, a kind of paralysis
- On some level, may want to be a woman
- Castration anxiety
- Despite flexibility in body he cannot access feelings properly. Tension deeper in muscles, soft on surface. Contrast 3-1
- Premature ejaculation
- Low energy in pelvis
Treatment
- Like the Endurer, they tend to be compliant and forthcoming in therapy but without emotional engagement
- Treatment is generally slow, as with Endurers. Aggression has been buried deep and must first be found. Contrast phallic narcissistic
- Express anger against father, or men in general
- Anger and aggression generally but hard to find, affect block rather than denial.
- Work with legs
- generally release to the point of exhaustion necessary
- Throat release
- Belly activation
- Working in group can bring out aggression
