Herbert Freudenberger

Who was Herbert Freudenberger?

Herbert J. Freudenberger was a German-born American psychologist. Though Freudenberger had many jobs in his life, including practitioner, editor, theoretician, and author, his most significant contribution is in the understanding and treatment of stress, burnout, and substance abuse.

Freudenberger was one of the first to describe the symptoms of exhaustion professionally and conduct a comprehensive study on burnout. In 1980, he published a book dealing with burnout, which became a standard reference on the phenomenon. His most prestigious award was the American Psychological Foundation Gold Medal Award for Life Achievement in the Practice of Psychology in 1999.