Fritz Künkel
Encyclopedia
Fritz Künkel was known both as a German psychiatrist
and an American psychologist. He might best be understood as a social scientist who sought to integrate psychology (especially the work of Freud, Adler
and Jung
), sociology
and religion
into a unified theory of human being. He consolidated these insights into a theory of character development and finally into his "We-Psychology".
with the assistance of Kunkel's two sons.
Kunkel was born the seventh of eight siblings, on a wealthy estate in Brandenburg (now Poland), on September 6, 1889. His early life was characterized as carefree, imaginative, active and social. While pursuing a variety of interests, he did manage to study medicine, receiving his medical degree “a few days after the beginning of the First World War” (1984, p. 1). At the Battle of Verdun
, working as a battalion surgeon, he received a shrapnel wound that led to the loss of his left arm.
Around 1919-1920, Kunkel moved to Vienna, where he became associated with Alfred Adler
. In 1924, he began to practice Adlerian psychotherapy in Berlin. Over the next 10 to 15 years he built on his Adlerian foundations, publishing a dozen books and founding his unique school of "We-Psychology".
Although not having expressed openly anti-Semitism, he supported the Nazi regime
In 1939, with the Second World War looming near, Kunkel moved to the United States, where he continued to develop We-Psychology while leading an active life of travel, lecture, writing and psychotherapy, until he died on Easter Sunday in 1956.
Inleiding tot de dialectische karakterkunde (Dutch Translation). Let's be normal.
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
and an American psychologist. He might best be understood as a social scientist who sought to integrate psychology (especially the work of Freud, Adler
Adler
The term Adler, the German word for the bird of prey "eagle", is both the last name of many people and an emblematic bird featured on many blazons since the feudal age, including the present German Bundeswappen and at times on the flags of Austria and Germany...
and Jung
Jung
Carl Jung was a Swiss psychiatrist, an influential thinker and the founder of analytical psychology.Jung may also refer to:* Jung * JUNG, Java Universal Network/Graph Framework-See also:...
), sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
and religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
into a unified theory of human being. He consolidated these insights into a theory of character development and finally into his "We-Psychology".
Biography
The following material comes from the brief life written by John A. SanfordJohn A. Sanford
John A. "Jack" Sanford was a Jungian psychoanalyst and Episcopal priest.Sanford was the son of Edgar L. Sanford, also an Episcopal priest, as was his own father and grandfather, the author of God's Healing Power and of Agnes Sanford , the founder of the Inner Healing Movement.Sanford was born in...
with the assistance of Kunkel's two sons.
Kunkel was born the seventh of eight siblings, on a wealthy estate in Brandenburg (now Poland), on September 6, 1889. His early life was characterized as carefree, imaginative, active and social. While pursuing a variety of interests, he did manage to study medicine, receiving his medical degree “a few days after the beginning of the First World War” (1984, p. 1). At the Battle of Verdun
Battle of Verdun
The Battle of Verdun was one of the major battles during the First World War on the Western Front. It was fought between the German and French armies, from 21 February – 18 December 1916, on hilly terrain north of the city of Verdun-sur-Meuse in north-eastern France...
, working as a battalion surgeon, he received a shrapnel wound that led to the loss of his left arm.
Around 1919-1920, Kunkel moved to Vienna, where he became associated with Alfred Adler
Alfred Adler
Alfred Adler was an Austrian medical doctor, psychotherapist, and founder of the school of individual psychology. In collaboration with Sigmund Freud and a small group of Freud's colleagues, Adler was among the co-founders of the psychoanalytic movement as a core member of the Vienna...
. In 1924, he began to practice Adlerian psychotherapy in Berlin. Over the next 10 to 15 years he built on his Adlerian foundations, publishing a dozen books and founding his unique school of "We-Psychology".
Although not having expressed openly anti-Semitism, he supported the Nazi regime
In 1939, with the Second World War looming near, Kunkel moved to the United States, where he continued to develop We-Psychology while leading an active life of travel, lecture, writing and psychotherapy, until he died on Easter Sunday in 1956.
Literary works
- unknown year: Psychologie van het ongeloof (Dutch Translation)
- 1927 Die Grundbegriffe der Individualpsychologie (with Ruth Kunkel). Opvoeding tot persoonlijkheid (Dutch Translation)
- 1928 Die Arbeit am Character. God helps those. Karaktervorming door zelfopvoeding (Dutch Translation)
- 1929 Arbeit am Charakter
- 1929-1935 Angewandte Charakterkunde, 6 vols.
- 1929 Part 1 from Angewandte Charakterkunde Einführung in die Characterkunde. Introduction a la characterologia.
Inleiding tot de dialectische karakterkunde (Dutch Translation). Let's be normal.
- 1929 Der kritische Punkt in der Charakterkunde.
- 1929 Das Dumme Kind. Het domme kind (Dutch Translation)
- 1929 Vitale Dialektik. Levend denken (Dutch Translation)
- 1930 Jugendcharakterkunde. What It Means To Grow Up. Karakterkunde van de jeugd (Dutch Translation)
- 1931 Grundzüge der Politischen Charakterkunde. Individu en gemeenschap (Dutch Translation)
- 1931 Eine Angstneurose und Ihre Behandlung. Genezing van angst (Dutch Translation)
- 1931 Part 2 Charakter, Wachstum und Erziehung. Karakter, groei en opvoeding (Dutch Translation). Character, Growth, and Education.
- 1932 Krisenbriefe. Crisisbrieven (Dutch Translation)
- 1932 Part 3 Charakter, Liebe und Ehe. Karakter, liefde en huwelijk (Dutch Translation)
- 1933 Part 4 Charakter, Einzelmensch und Gruppe. Groepskarakterkunde (Dutch Translation)
- 1934 Part 5 Charakter, Leiden und Heilung. Karakter, ziekte en genezing (Dutch Translation)
- 1935 Part 6 Charakter, Krisis und Weltanschauung, 2e bearbeitung von Vitale Dialektiek.
- 1935 Grundzüge der praktischen Seelenheilkunde. Conquer Yourself.
- 1936 Die Erziehung Deiner Kinder (with Elizabeth Kunkel).
- 1939 Das Wir.
- 1940 How Character Develops (with Roy Dickerson).
- 1943 Ringen um Reife. In Search of Maturity.
- 1946 What Do You Advise? (with Ruth Gardner).
- 1947 Creation Continues. Die Schöpfung geht weiter
- 1947 My Dear Ego.
External links
- http://www.pedinova.ch/fritz-kuenkel-psycho.0.html (German)
- / Editor's note Kunkel Sel. Writings
- http://theologytoday.ptsem.edu/apr1985/v42-1-booknotes11.htm