[A note on the technical debate between Reich/Fenichel and Theodor Reik (1932-1936)].

Wilhelm Reich's technical emphasis on the "systematic analysis of defenses" was controversial even before 1933. His main opponent in this field was Reik who expressed his criticism several times from 1932 to 1935. For Reik, the analytical process was essentially open, dependent on surprise. Fenichel, Reich's ally, defended a "scientific" approach, as opposed to "intuition", but later adopted a mediatory position.