Erikson's Healthy Personality, Societal Institutions, and Holocaust Survivors

Abstract

The researchers conducted a content analysis of transcripts of interviews with survivors of the Nazi Holocaust. They coded relevant passages as representing favorable or unfavorable outcomes of each of eight psychosocial crises according to Eriksonian criteria. Data also included survivors' self-assessments of their success in meeting Erikson's eight stages of development and their evaluations of other survivors' “success” at each stage. Transcripts were also read to obtain an impression of broad environmental influences at the time of the Holocaust. Survivor quotes are included to illustrate their life transitions.

KEYWORDS:

• Psychosocial crises
• healthy personality
• Holocaust survivors

Notes

This research was funded by Grant 10282 from the John Templeton Foundation: Roberta R. Greene (principal investigator); Marilyn Armour, Harriet L. Cohen, Constance Corley, and Carmen Morano (co-investigators); Shira Hantman (statistical consultant); and Sandra A. Graham (project manager). The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the John Templeton Foundation.