Children of Holocaust Survivors in Dialogue with Children of the Third Reich: Working through Intergenerational Trauma
Children of Holocaust Survivors in Dialogue with Children of the Third Reich: Working through Intergenerational Trauma
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Issue Date
0209
Authors
Matz, David G.
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Abstract
The purpose of this dissertation is to understand the possibility of healing and reconciliation by analyzing the psychological meaning of a dialogue between CHS (children of Holocaust survivors) and CTR (children of the Third Reich) from the perspective of CHS. The qualitative research technique of phenomenology was utilized with five children of Holocaust survivors to understand this experience in greater depth. Specifically, this research explored the potential for healing a CHS after engaging in a dialogue with CTR. More broadly, this research may have implications for healing dialogues between other conflicted groups, as well as making a small contribution toward peacebuilding and conflict resolution by better understanding how to reduce prejudice and violence between groups. This study found empirical evidence that dialogue groups may promote the healing of individuals with intergenerational trauma, as well as having the potential to interrupt the perpetuation of intergenerational trauma. This study also found a shift in the identity development process occurs in part due to participation in the dialogue groups, and there was evidence that this may lead to prejudice reduction and increased pro-social beliefs and behaviors in the presence of intractable conflicts. The author proposes an identity development model (IHID- Intergenerational Holocaust-Survivor Identity Development model), suggesting identity development occurs for the child of a Holocaust survivor through participation in a dialogue with a child of the Third Reich. This identity development contains the potential to interrupt the intergenerational transmission of trauma in addition to interrupting the perpetuation of prejudice and intolerance.