Matthias Göring

Matthias Heinrich G%C3%B6ring

Matthias Göring was a German physician and psychotherapist, known for his involvement in the Nazi Party and his efforts to align German psychotherapy with Nazi ideology. He was a cousin of Hermann Göring, a leading member of the Nazi Party and a prominent figure in the Nazi government.

Early Life and Education[edit | edit source]

Matthias Göring was born in Germany (the specific date and place of birth are not detailed). He pursued a career in medicine, specializing in psychotherapy. His early career and educational background laid the foundation for his later work in psychotherapy and his involvement in the political movements of the time.

Career and Nazi Involvement[edit | edit source]

During the rise of the Nazi Party in Germany, Matthias Göring became actively involved in integrating Nazi ideologies into the field of psychotherapy. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Deutsches Institut für Psychologische Forschung und Psychotherapie (German Institute for Psychological Research and Psychotherapy), also known as the Göring Institute. This institution aimed to create a unified approach to psychotherapy that was in line with Nazi principles, excluding Jewish psychotherapists and theories that were considered incompatible with Nazi ideology.

Göring's work at the institute involved the promotion of "Aryan" psychotherapy and the exclusion of Freudian psychoanalysis, which was denounced as a "Jewish science." Under his leadership, the Göring Institute became the only recognized body for psychotherapy in Nazi Germany, controlling the practice and ensuring that it adhered to the regime's policies and beliefs.

Controversies and Legacy[edit | edit source]

Matthias Göring's alignment with the Nazi Party and his efforts to Nazify psychotherapy have been subjects of significant controversy. His actions contributed to the persecution of Jewish psychotherapists and the marginalization of their contributions to the field. After the fall of the Nazi regime, the Göring Institute was disbanded, and the integration of Nazi ideologies into psychotherapy was widely condemned.

The legacy of Matthias Göring in the field of psychotherapy is complex. While he played a role in the development of psychotherapeutic practices in Germany, his efforts to politicize the field and enforce discriminatory policies have overshadowed his contributions. The history of psychotherapy in Nazi Germany, including Göring's involvement, remains a cautionary tale about the dangers of intertwining science and ideology.