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PFR 1(1):80-81 (1966)

Discussion of Klaus D. Hoppe's Article, The Psychodynamics of Concentration Camp Victims

Author: William G. Niederland MD

Abstract

I should like to comment briefly on two aspects of Dr. Hoppe's presentation:

The factor of guilt, usually is an ungoing and unsettling process—often of an insidious character—in the whole survivor pathology. The apparently paradoxical problem of guilt in survivor populations has been described in the literature, (Rosenman, 1956; Niederland, 1961; Lifton, 1963), but has perhaps not been sufficiently considered in the dynamics of these patients, much less in the forensic-psychiatric evaluation of their conditions for the German compensation courts. It is indeed one of the most bitter ironies in this situation, so replete with tragedy and bitterness, that feelings of guilt accompanied by shame, self-condemnatory tendencies and self-accusation's should be experienced by the victims of the persecution, and apparently much less (if at all) by the perpetrators of it.
I have never had an opportunity to examine the latter; however, from my work with hundreds of persecution survivors, I know their feelings of guilt and shame are of the most profound order and stand at the bottom of many of their clinical manifestations: withdrawal from social activity, seclusiveness, brooding preoccupation with the past, depression as well as fear of renewed persecution, anxiety attacks, inability to enjoy even the most innocent pleasures or distractions (a movie, a book, a carefree evening, etc.,). I became especially aware of the severe burden of guilt these people carry when I explored what I have called the symptom-free interval, i.e., the period of relative freedom from symptoms some of these patients experienced between the time of liberation and their emigration to the United States.
Page 80
The survivors indicated that during the years following their liberation they remained relatively free from disabling symptoms and self-punishing tendencies so long as they could fantasy their dead family members might miraculously reappear, and during their exposure to the considerable adjustment difficul

PFR 1(1):80-81 (1966)

Discussion of Klaus D. Hoppe's Article, The Psychodynamics of Concentration Camp Victims

Author: William G. Niederland MD

Abstract

I should like to comment briefly on two aspects of Dr. Hoppe's presentation:

The factor of guilt, usually is an ungoing and unsettling process—often of an insidious character—in the whole survivor pathology. The apparently paradoxical problem of guilt in survivor populations has been described in the literature, (Rosenman, 1956; Niederland, 1961; Lifton, 1963), but has perhaps not been sufficiently considered in the dynamics of these patients, much less in the forensic-psychiatric evaluation of their conditions for the German compensation courts. It is indeed one of the most bitter ironies in this situation, so replete with tragedy and bitterness, that feelings of guilt accompanied by shame, self-condemnatory tendencies and self-accusation's should be experienced by the victims of the persecution, and apparently much less (if at all) by the perpetrators of it.
I have never had an opportunity to examine the latter; however, from my work with hundreds of persecution survivors, I know their feelings of guilt and shame are of the most profound order and stand at the bottom of many of their clinical manifestations: withdrawal from social activity, seclusiveness, brooding preoccupation with the past, depression as well as fear of renewed persecution, anxiety attacks, inability to enjoy even the most innocent pleasures or distractions (a movie, a book, a carefree evening, etc.,). I became especially aware of the severe burden of guilt these people carry when I explored what I have called the symptom-free interval, i.e., the period of relative freedom from symptoms some of these patients experienced between the time of liberation and their emigration to the United States.
Page 80
The survivors indicated that during the years following their liberation they remained relatively free from disabling symptoms and self-punishing tendencies so long as they could fantasy their dead family members might miraculously reappear, and during their exposure to the considerable adjustment difficul