Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy
Volume 6, Issue 4, 2014, Pages 404-410

The experience of forced labor and its meaning for the self: The case of Holocaust survivors (Article)

Band-Winterstein T.* , Fein N.
  • a Department of Gerontology, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
  • b School of Art Therapy, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel

Abstract

Forced labor is any work or service that an individual is required to do involuntarily. It is considered a traumatic event. The study explored the meaning of the traumatic experience of forced labor and its influence on identity construction and work through the life course. A qualitative- phenomenological study, based on a sample of 20 Holocaust survivors, produced 3 major themes: the multiple faces of forced labor, forced labor constructing self-identity, and the "stamp" of forced labor in the survivors life wisdom. The varied perception of forced labor indicates that the trauma has both harmful and beneficial aspects, which reflect on the self. © 2013 American Psychological Association.

Author Keywords

Resiliency Holocaust survivors Old age Forced labor life review trauma

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84904391475&doi=10.1037%2fa0035616&partnerID=40&md5=96440080ef925c22748aa6120fe57480
DOI: 10.1037/a0035616
ISSN: 19429681
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English