Creative Expression and Resilience Among Holocaust Survivors

Abstract

Positive psychologists and gerontologists are increasingly interested in how artistic experience may contribute to resilience across the life course. This article presents vignettes from the lives of three visual artists who survived the Holocaust in Hungary and now live in the Los Angeles area. It discusses the intersection of their creativity and resilience and how these creative expressions have enhanced personal and community well-being. Implications for research on the use of images are discussed, along with the possibilities for utilizing creative expressions in social work practice.

KEYWORDS:

• Creativity
• creative expression
• resilience
• meaning making
• coherence
• Holocaust

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.