Biography of Herbert Freudenberger (1926 - 1999)

Herbert Freudenberger was a Clinical, psychoanalyst and author psychologist German-American. He is better known for being one of the first to describe the phenomenon of professional exhaustion (or "burnout"), in 1974. Freudenberger's work on professional exhaustion had a great impact on psychology and in the way companies and organizations see the work stress and well -being of employees. His ideas have influenced how mental health and exhaustion in the workplace are handled, both in terms of prevention and treatment.

Content

• First years of Herbert Freudenberger
• Herbert Freudenberger's work and contributions to psychology
  • Professional exhaustion or burnout
  • Free Drug Adict Clinics
  • Psychoanalysis
• Conclusions
  • References

First years of Herbert Freudenberger

Born in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1926, Freudenberger He emigrated to the United States in 1939 to escape Nazi persecution. He worked in a variety of jobs before finally obtaining his degree at Brooklyn College in 1951. He continued his education, obtaining a master's degree in clinical psychology of the New York University in 1952 and a doctorate in clinical psychology of the same institute in 1959.

After receiving his doctorate, Freudenberger worked as a psychoanalyst in private practice and as a professor at New York University. He was also the founder of one of the first free clinics for drug addiction patients in New York in the 1960s. It was during this time that he explored the phenomenon of professional exhaustion both in himself and in his colleagues. Freudenberger defined it as "the extinction of motivation or interest", a kind of emotional exhaustion caused by excessive dedication to cause, work or way of life.

Herbert Freudenberger's work and contributions to psychology

Herbert Freudenberger made several important contributions to psychology throughout his career. But its discovery and development of the concept of professional exhaustion ("burnout"), as we said, is perhaps the best known and revolutionary.

Professional exhaustion or burnout

Professional exhaustion is a term Freudenberger coined to describe a specific set of symptoms that he observed in mental health workers, but then expanded to include people from all professions. Freudenberger defined professional exhaustion as a "state of physical and mental exhaustion caused by a person's professional life". Freudenberger proposed that professional exhaustion occurred in three stages: stress, resistance and exhaustion.

The stress stage is characterized by an increase in the amount of work and the pressure to perform. In the resistance stage, individuals They try to face stress by increasing their commitment to their work, sacrificing personal and leisure needs. Finally, the exhaustion stage occurs when individuals can no longer maintain their level of commitment and begin to experience physical and mental exhaustion, disinterest at work, and even symptoms of depression.

The kind of Freudenberger was a pioneer in the field of occupational health And his work led to a new understanding of How work stress can affect the physical and mental health of workers. It was thanks to this work that organizations began to seriously take the well -being of employees and consider the balance between working and personal life as an important aspect of human resources management.

Burnout syndrome: prevention and treatment

Free Drug Adict Clinics

Another important contribution of Freudenberger was the creation of one of the first free clinics for the treatment of drug addicts in New York in the 1960s. Through his work in this clinic, Freudenberger was able to carry out important research on drug addiction and provide a very necessary service to the community.

Psychoanalysis

As a psychoanalyst, Freudenberger also made contributions in the practice of psychoanalysis and clinical psychology. In addition to his work with patients and his teaching at the University of New York, he published several articles and books that deal with various aspects of psychology and psychoanalysis.

Although much of his work as a psychoanalyst was carried out in the context of his private practice and is not as widely documented as his work on professional exhaustion, contributed to the field in several important forms.

First, Freudenberger focused on the importance of social and cultural context in psychotherapy. He acknowledged that social and cultural factors can play an important role in mental health And in the way people experience and manage stress. This was an innovative approach at a time when psychoanalysis often focused on the individual aspects of the psyche.

Second, Freudenberger was known for his ability to integrate different therapeutic approaches. Although he was formed as a psychoanalyst, he did not limit himself to this approach and often, combined techniques of other types of therapy to adapt to the individual needs of their patients. This showed flexibility and openness to new ideas that was influenced in the way many therapists practice today.

Although Freudenberger's contributions to psychoanalysis may not be as known as their work on professional exhaustion, they were significant and left a lasting mark in the field.

Conclusions

Freudenberger's legacy in psychology remains very important, with the concept of professional exhaustion being widely recognized and his work in the treatment of addiction being highly respected.

Freudenberger wrote several books and numerous articles throughout his career, including "Burnout: The High Cost of High Achievement" (the high cost of high performance), which is an in -depth exploration of the phenomenon of professional exhaustion.

Freudenberger died in 1999, but his work remains a significant influence in the field of psychology. His concept of "Burnout" has been widely recognized and accepted, and remains a useful tool to understand and treat stress and job dissatisfaction in the modern world.

Mental charge evaluation test at work

References

• https: // in.Wikipedia.org/wiki/herbert_freudenberger
• https: // burnoutglobal.com/The-author