Alexander Mitscherlich
Alexander Harbord Mitscherlich (20 September 1908 – 26 June 1982) was a German psychiatrist and psychoanalyst.
Also recorded as Alexander Harbord Mitscherlich
Alexander Mitscherlich

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- Born
- Alexander Mitscherlich was born on 20 September 1908.
- Died
- Alexander Mitscherlich died on 26 June 1982.
- Nationality
- Germany
- Occupation
- psychologist · historian of Modern Age · non-fiction writer · university teacher · writer · chemist · author · opinion journalist · philosopher · actor
- Known for
- Society Without the Father: A Contribution to Social Psychology
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Documentary summary
Alexander Harbord Mitscherlich (20 September 1908 – 26 June 1982) was a German psychiatrist and psychoanalyst.
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Note VALÉORINE
Alexander Mitscherlich (1908–1982) was a German actor, author and chemist, among other activities. Born in Munich, the actor died in Frankfurt.
Alexander Mitscherlich studied at Heidelberg University and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. The actor worked for Goethe University Frankfurt, Heidelberg University and Psyche, among others and was a member of Humanistische Union. Alexander Mitscherlich worked in Heidelberg. The actor was active in neurology, psychiatry and psychoanalysis.
Languages used include German. Alexander Mitscherlich received Cultural Honor Prize of the City of Munich and Wilhelm Leuschner Medal.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 26 September 2026
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Authority files
gnd · 16036755-4 · wikidata · Q67449
In this article
Life
Life
Alexander Mitscherlich grew up in Munich and took up studies in history, the history of art, and philosophy at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. When Mitscherlich's Jewish-born dissertation thesis supervisor Paul Joachimsen died, in 1932, his chair was passed to an antisemite, Karl Alexander von Müller, who declined to take over the dissertation projects begun by his predecessor. This is why Mitscherlich left Munich for Berlin to open a bookstore there, where he sold writings critical of the current developments in Germany, bringing him to the attention of the SA. Starting in 1933, he was jailed in Germany several times as a political prisoner. Mitscherlich immigrated to Switzerland to take up studies in medicine there, only to return to Germany in 1937. He received a doctor's degree from Heidelberg University in 1941 in neurology. After World War II, he was an observer at the Nuremberg Trials against the Nazi physicians guilty of medical experiments and torture of the inmates of concentration camps. He worked at a clinic in Zürich where he met his future wife Margarete Mitscherlich-Nielsen. They married in 1955. It was his third marriage in all. Alexander Mitscherlich founded the clinic for psychosomatic medicine at Heidelberg University in 1949. From 1953 he held the chair for psychosomatic medicine in Heidelberg. In 1960, together with his wife Margarete Mitscherlich he was a co-founder of the Sigmund-Freud-Institut at Frankfurt committed to psychoanalytic research. He directed the institute until 1976. From 1966 to 1973 Mitscherlich was professor for psychology at Frankfurt University. From the 1960s, alongside the protagonists of the Frankfurt School, the Mitscherlichs played an important part in post-war Germany's intellectual debates, employing psychoanalytic thought for explaining the causes behind Nazi Germany and its aftermath in German society to the present day. The first major book they wrote together was Die Unfähigkeit zu trauern. Grundlagen kollektiven Verhaltens (The Inability to Mourn: Principles of Collective Behaviour), first published in 1967, discussing why the Holocaust, the war crimes, and the sentiment of guilt on the offender's part were not dealt with adequately in post-war German society. Mitscherlich pointed specifically to the Germans' inability to mourn their beloved leader, Adolf Hitler. Another important book Alexander Mitscherlich wrote was Die Unwirtlichkeit unserer Städte: Anstiftung zum Unfrieden (The inhospitality of our cities. A deliberate provocation) first published in 1965 that deals with the societal and psychological consequences of urban planning and architecture in post-war Germany. In that work, he calls for a substantial change in land law. Late in this period, in 1969, Mitscherlich was the analyst of author Erica Jong, who stated, "He was the first person that took me seriously as a writer. He helped me break through a lot of barriers in my work. He changed my life." Mitscherlich was awarded the Friedenspreis des Deutschen Buchhandels in 1969. In 1973 he received the Cultural Honor Prize of the City of Munich and the Wilhelm-Leuschner-Medaille. • Illustration — Alexander Mitscherlich's grave at Frankfurt am Main central cemetery Alexander Mitscherlich died in Frankfurt am Main, aged 73. His bequest was handed over to Frankfurt University by his wife in 1982.
Identity and origins
Identity and origins
The authorities additionally record the heading Alexander Harbord Mitscherlich. His recorded language was German. His recorded confession was atheism. He married Margarete Mitscherlich-Nielsen and Melitta Mitscherlich. 3 children are recorded: Monika Seifert, Thomas Mitscherlich and Matthias Mitscherlich.
Career and activity
Career and activity
Alexander Mitscherlich worked in psychiatry, neurology and psychoanalysis. He was employed by Goethe University Frankfurt, Heidelberg University, Sigmund Freud Institut and Psyche. He belonged to Humanistische Union. He worked at Heidelberg.
Identity
Identity
Alexander Mitscherlich is recorded with the occupation historian of Modern Age. Recorded with the occupation non-fiction writer. Recorded with the occupation university teacher. Recorded as psychologist, historian of Modern Age, non-fiction writer and university teacher.

book cover of Die Idee des Friedens und die menschliche Aggressivität
https: inventaire.io/

Alexander Mitscherlich Fred Mielke Wissenschaft ohne Menschlichkeit 1949 Titel
booktitle
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1908
Alexander Mitscherlich was born on 20 September 1908.
1982
Alexander Mitscherlich died on 26 June 1982.
Places
Named by the record
Places
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Alexander Mitscherlich was born at Munich.
Birthplace
Alexander Mitscherlich died at Frankfurt.
Deathplace
Writings (selection)
• Mitscherlich, A.; Mielke, F. Das Diktat der Menschenverachtung: Eine Dokumentation (The Dictate of Contempt for Humanity: A Documentation) 1947. "Psychiatrie Im Nationalsozialismus: Erinnerung Und Verantwortung. By Frank Schneider" p. 25 • Auf dem Weg zur vaterlosen Gesellschaft. Ideen zur Sozialpsychologie. 1963 (Society Without the Father: A Contribution to Social Psychology) • Die Unwirtlichkeit unserer Städte. Anstiftung zum Unfrieden. 1965 • Krankheit als Konflikt. 1966 • With Margarete Mitscherlich: Die Unfähigkeit zu trauern. Grundlagen kollektiven Verhaltens. 1967 • * • With Margarete Mitscherlich: Die Idee des Friedens und die menschliche Aggressivität. 1969 • With Margarete Mitscherlich: Eine deutsche Art zu lieben. 1970 • Ein Leben für die Psychoanalyse. 1980 (autobiography)
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority file
- Gemeinsame Normdatei 16036755-4, Tagung Freud in der Gegenwart, 1956 - 2006, Alexander Mitscherlich zu Ehren (2006 : Frankfurt, Main).
Unverified · Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q67449: Alexander Mitscherlich
Unverified · Wikidata
Literature
• Martin Dehli: Leben als Konflikt. Zur Biographie Alexander Mitscherlichs. Wallstein Verlag, Göttingen 2007, 320 S.. • Tobias Freimüller (Hg.): Psychoanalyse und Protest – Alexander Mitscherlich und die "Achtundsechziger" Wallstein Verlag, Göttingen 2008 • Tobias Freimüller: Alexander Mitscherlich: Gesellschaftsdiagnosen und Psychoanalyse nach Hitler, Göttingen: Wallstein, 2007, • Timo Hoyer: Im Getümmel der Welt. Alexander Mitscherlich – ein Porträt; Göttingen 2008 • Hans-Martin Lohmann: Alexander Mitscherlich. Reinbek bei Hamburg. 1987.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Frankfurt University. Alexander Mitscherlich: Biographische Angaben. Frankfurt University Library. 9 September 2008.
- 2.Goethe-Institut. What did the '68ers read before they became authors themselves? / A critical bibliography of selected writings for a "refresher course". 2008.
- 3.The "Sex Woman". Salon.com. 2003.
- 4.Börsenverein. Der Preisträger 1969. Alexander Mitscherlich. Friedenspreis des Deutschen Buchhandels.
- 5.Kultureller Ehrenpreis. Rathaus – Landeshauptstadt München.
- 6.Frankfurt University. Na 7 – Nachlass Alexander Mitscherlich. Frankfurt University Library. 14 May 2012.
- 7.Schneider, F. Psychiatrie im Nationalsozialismus: Psychiatry under National Socialism. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. 24. 2011. 978-3-642-20469-2.
References
Citations
References
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authority file
Gemeinsame Normdatei 16036755-4, Tagung Freud in der Gegenwart, 1956 - 2006, Alexander Mitscherlich zu Ehren (2006 : Frankfurt, Main).Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
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Further particulars
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Formation and teaching. Mitscherlich studied at Heidelberg University and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. The record notes the qualifications doctorate and professor. Mitscherlich received Wilhelm Leuschner Medal, Peace Prize of the German Publishers' and Booksellers' Association and Cultural Honor Prize of the City of Munich.
Recognition and collections
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Books
38,960 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
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