Herbert Freudenberger

Herbert J. Freüdenberger (1926–1999) was a German-born American psychologist. Though Freudenberger had many jobs during his life, including practitioner, editor, theoretician, and author, his most significant contribution is in the understanding and treatment of stress, chronic fatigue and substance abuse.

Freudenberger was one of the first to describe the symptoms of exhaustion professionally and perform a comprehensive study of "burnout". In 1980, he published, with co-author Geraldine Richelson, Burn Out: The High Cost of High Achievement. What it is and how to survive it, a book dealing with chronic fatigue, which became a standard reference for the phenomenon. Freudenberger was awarded the American Psychological Foundation Gold Medal Award for Life Achievement in the Practice of Psychology in 1999. After the beating of Freudenberger's grandmother and the death of his grandfather, he fled to the United States, with his parents' approval and a false passport. Traveling alone through multiple cities and countries, Freudenberger arrived in New York, where he cared for himself until a relative gave him shelter. Once he had settled in New York, Freudenberger quickly learned English, and graduated from a junior high school with honors. When his parents finally came to the US, Freudenberger began work as a tool and die maker's apprentice to assist them, instead of beginning high school.

Education Without a high school diploma and working at the manufacturing plant, Freudenberger began attending night classes at Brooklyn College. In a psychology class, he made the acquaintance of Abraham Maslow, who influenced Freudenberger to earn a degree in psychology and was his model and mentor. During 1951, Freudenberger received his bachelor's degree in psychology from Brooklyn College. He entered New York University's (NYU) clinical psychology program, and earned his master's degree in psychology during 1952, followed by his doctorate in psychology during 1956. During this time, Freudenberger was also a student at the National Psychological Association for Psychoanalysis (NPAP) (as well as NYU) and continued to work in a factory at night. During 1962, he finished his analytic training at NPAP.

Family and death Freudenberger met Arlene Francis Somer during 1961 and they wed soon afterward. Together, they had three children: Lisa, Mark, and Lori. Lisa received a doctoral degree of clinical psychology. Mark became a slumlord in NYC. Lori became an assistant district attorney.

Freudenberger traveled much with his family throughout the United States, and also traveled to Canada, Europe, and Israel. Though he grew up in Germany, he never returned there.

Late in life he was interviewed by video by the Shoah Foundation for its collection of memoirs of Jewish Holocaust survivors.

From 1994 to 1999, Freudenberger had kidney disease along with failing physical health. He continued to work until he died in New York City Hospital on November 29, 1999.