The Jew as a Psychological Type

The author reports on his inquiry whether the Jews have psychological characteristics other than those impressed upon them by the historical and sociological conditions of their dispersion. An analysis of certain idiosyncrasies of the contemporary Jew reveals that he has a characteristic way of repressing aggression; this same pattern is found among the ancient Jews. A number of such parallels between modern and ancient Jews suggest that both have a singular manner of resolving the Oedipus complex; and that this has given a specific psychological physiognomy to all people who are identified in history as Jews.—This finding leads to conclusions of more general significance. It is logical to expect that every national (cultural) type will be traceable to some specific pattern of resolving the Oedipus complex. Cultural affinity between a group of nations would indicate resemblant patterns, For instance, the nations of Western Civilization seem to resemble one another more closely in this respect than they do the Jewish pattern. This justifies our contrasting a “Gentile” and a “Jewish” type, which is not in any way to be construed as implying racial differences.—The following chapters form part of a book, now in preparation, in which a complete outline of this investigation is given. One chapter has been published previously (“The Jewish God and the Greek Hero”, The American Imago, Vol. 5, No. 2, July 1948, pp. 152-166.)

Let me begin by telling you a little story.

One morning in February, 1945 (the war was still on) I dropped in to see Ben at his second-hand store on Santa Monica Boulevard. It struck me that his temper was even worse than usual, and I was soon to learn why. His landlord had just given him notice, and Ben complained bitterly of the wrongs he had to suffer. In the midst of his outburst, a Gentile woman walked into the store and asked for fluorescent lights, one of the many articles still scarce at that time.