# Fritz Perls

> German-born psychiatrist, psychoanalyst and psychotherapist (1893-1970)

**Wikidata**: [Q60750](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q60750)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritz_Perls)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/fritz-perls

## Summary
Fritz Perls was a German-born psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, and psychotherapist who lived from 1893 to 1970. He is best known as the co-founder of Gestalt therapy, a form of psychotherapy that emphasizes personal responsibility and the individual's experience in the present moment.

## Biography
- **Born**: July 8, 1893
- **Died**: March 14, 1970
- **Nationality**: German-born; later held citizenship in South Africa and the United States.
- **Aliases**: Friedrich Salomon Perls
- **Occupations**: Psychiatrist, Psychoanalyst, Psychotherapist, Psychologist
- **Known for**: Co-founding Gestalt therapy
- **Field(s)**: Psychotherapy
- **Notable Work**: *Gestalt Therapy Verbatim* (identified as notable work Q28451391)
- **Influenced by**: Wilhelm Reich

## Contributions
Fritz Perls is primarily recognized for his development of Gestalt therapy, a distinct form of psychotherapy. His notable written contribution includes the book *Gestalt Therapy Verbatim*. His work in the field of psychotherapy established a new approach to mental health that focuses on the "here and now" of the patient's experience.

## FAQs
**What is Fritz Perls known for?**
Fritz Perls is best known for co-founding Gestalt therapy, a humanistic approach to psychotherapy that focuses on the individual's experience in the present moment and the concept of "wholeness."

**What were Fritz Perls' professional backgrounds?**
He was a psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, and psychotherapist. He was also identified with the occupation of a psychologist.

**Who influenced Fritz Perls' work?**
According to structured data, Fritz Perls was influenced by Wilhelm Reich, an Austrian-American psychiatrist and psychoanalyst known for his work on bioelectrical theory and body psychotherapy.

**What nationalities did Fritz Perls hold?**
Born in Germany, Perls later held citizenship in South Africa and the United States.

## Why They Matter
Fritz Perls matters because he established Gestalt therapy, a significant movement within humanistic psychology that shifted the focus of psychotherapy from historical interpretation to immediate experience and personal responsibility. His work provided an alternative to traditional psychoanalysis, influencing how therapists approach the therapeutic relationship and the concept of self-awareness. By integrating influences from figures like Wilhelm Reich, Perls helped bridge the gap between psychoanalysis and more experiential therapies, leaving a lasting legacy on the practice of mental health treatment globally.

## Notable For
-   **Founder of Gestalt Therapy**: Established a major school of psychotherapy.
-   **Author**: Wrote the notable work *Gestalt Therapy Verbatim*.
-   **Professional Integration**: Worked across the disciplines of psychiatry, psychoanalysis, and psychotherapy.
-   **Influence**: Influenced by Wilhelm Reich, integrating body-oriented and psychological perspectives.

## Body

### Early Life and Background
Fritz Perls was born Friedrich Salomon Perls on July 8, 1893, in the German Reich. His early life occurred within the context of a Germany that was part of the Kingdom of Prussia, a major European state and part of the German Empire. The geopolitical landscape of his birth was defined by the German nation-state established in 1871.

### Professional Identity and Career
Perls established a multifaceted professional identity, working as a psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, psychotherapist, and psychologist. His career spanned several continents and citizenships. Initially a subject of the German Reich, he eventually emigrated and obtained citizenship in South Africa and later the United States. His move to South Africa placed him in a nation with a complex history, established in 1910, which would later become a focal point for diverse cultural and political developments.

### Development of Gestalt Therapy
Perls' most enduring contribution was the development of Gestalt therapy. This form of psychotherapy is distinct in its focus on the client's immediate experience and the concept of "wholeness" (derived from the German word *Gestalt*). His work in this field is documented in his notable publication, *Gestalt Therapy Verbatim*.

### Intellectual Influences
The theoretical underpinnings of Perls' work were significantly shaped by Wilhelm Reich. Reich, an Austrian-American psychiatrist and psychoanalyst (1897–1957), was known for his bioelectrical theory of the human body and the concept of orgone energy. Reich's development of body psychotherapy and his focus on the physical manifestations of psychological states provided a foundation that influenced Perls' own therapeutic techniques.

### Historical and Geographical Context
Perls' life spanned significant historical periods. Born in the late 19th century during the existence of the German Empire (German Reich), his life intersected with major global shifts. His citizenship in South Africa connected him to the history of the southern African region, a country known for its diverse culture and complex political history, including the apartheid era and the subsequent transition to democracy. His eventual settlement in the United States marked the final phase of his career, where he continued to develop and teach Gestalt therapy until his death on March 14, 1970.

## References

1. Czech National Authority Database
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. BnF authorities
4. International Standard Name Identifier
5. CiNii Research
6. Integrated Authority File
7. SNAC
8. Babelio
9. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
10. Pedagogues and Psychologists of the World
11. NUKAT
12. CONOR.BG
13. Korean Authority File
14. MAK
15. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
16. [Frederick S. Perls | Open Library](https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL1578065A/Frederick_S._Perls/edit)
17. Autoritats UB
18. [Source](http://www.rolfing-potsdam.de/ida-rolf.phtml)
19. [Source](http://www.edmaupin.com/Intro_to_Rolfing.html)
20. Quora