Walden University ScholarWorks Harold L. Hodgkinson Award for Outstanding University Awards Dissertation 1996 Coping strategies and adaptation mechanisms utilized by female Holocaust survivors from the Auschwitz Concentration Camp Joy Erlichman Miller Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/hodgkinson This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the University Awards at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Harold L. Hodgkinson Award for Outstanding Dissertation by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality 0f the copy submitted. 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Contact UMI directly to order. UMI A Bell & Howell Information Company 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor MI 48106-1346 USA 313/761-4700 800/521-0600 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. COPING STRATEGIES AND ADAPTATION MECHANISMS UTILIZED BY FEMALE HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS FROM THE AUSCHWITZ CONCENTRATION CAMP A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF WALDEN UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY HUMAN SERVICES BY JOY ERLICHMAN MILLER MAY, 1996 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: 963359S Copyright 1996 by Miller, Joy Erlichman All rights reserved. UMI Microform 9633596 Copyright 1996, by UMI Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 3G0 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. WALDEN UNIVERSITY DISSERTATION APPROVAL Coping Strategies and Adaptation Mechanisms Utilized by Female Holocaust Survivors from the Auschwitz Concentration Camp Joy Erlichman Miller Waite. Richard W. 1/11/96 Stein. David S. 1/22/96 Faculty Advisor DATE Member, Review Committe DATE J. Kent Morrison. Ph.D. 1/23/96 Hoehn. Lilburn P. 1/19/96 Vice President, DATE Member, Review Committe DATE Academic Affairs Dave Palmer____________________ 4/15/96 President, DATE Walden University Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT COPING STRATEGIES AND ADAPTATION MECHANISMS UTILIZED BY FEMALE HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS FROM THE AUSCHWITZ CONCENTRATION CAMP A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF WALDEN UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY HUMAN SERVICES BY JOY ERLICHMAN MILLER MAY, 1996 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT The female experience during the Holocaust has largely been ignored as significantly different than that of male counterparts. This gender-specific research study investigates the “unique, poignant voices” of women’s coping strategies utilized during internment in the Auschwitz Concentration Camp. Focusing specifically on the video oral history testimonies of the complete collection of female survivors of Auschwitz, which were produced by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the study suggests that the predominate coping strategies used by females was affiliation with others as the means of survival. Through the utilization of clustering sheets, the data suggested that affiliation and assistance from others was essential in female survival and coping, coupled primarily with the utilization of emotion-focused coping strategies. Additionally, the study utilizes telephone interviews with the Holocaust survivors in the sample, three to five years after their testimonies were elicited as part of the permanent exhibits and research archives at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. The findings from the interviews concur with the predominant utilization of affiliation as a coping mechanism for survival of massive traumatization during internment in the Auschwitz Concentration Camp. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. DEDICATION The resiliency of the human spirit is astonishing. The survivors of the Nazi Holocaust have vigilantly reminded us of the inner strength of those who fight to survive, as well as eloquently spoken for the millions of Jews, Gypsies, Jehovah Witnesses, homosexuals, and other “enemies of the State” who could not speak for themselves. In memory of all that were consumed, may this serve as a reminder that we must never forget the lessons of the Holocaust. May we always remember to speak of these “truths” to our children and depart the lessons to our children’s children in memory of those who have perished during the Shoah. This is dedicated to all those who were consumed during the Holocaust, as well as the brave survivors who “bear witness” to the atrocities of genocide. May we be ever watchful of the darkness and evil that lives in the ideologies of prejudice, hatred, and racism. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Over thirty years ago, I sat quietly shocked and abhorred as my Hebrew school teachers spoke of their internment in the Auschwitz Concentration Camp. Struggling within, I have wondered if I would have possessed the strength to endure, survive, and cope with the atrocities of the Holocaust. This research study has become a transformational healing journey which has led me to those who “bear witness” to the Nazi Holocaust. They have opened their hearts, their souls, and shared their deepest guarded thoughts and emotions with someone who needed to know the “truth” of their experience. Their stories, insights, interpretations, and lives will continue to live through those of us who will “never forget” as we pass these lessons to others. My deepest thanks, respect, and love to the brave survivors in my research study-Mady D., Fritzie F., Alice C., Nina K., Ruth M., Helen G., Lily M., Kate B., Cecilie K., Guta W., Margaret K., Barbara F., Toby S., Eva S., Helen W., and Magda B. who have taught me about the strength of the human spirit, and the loving devotion, nurturing, and caring of women. A special thank you to the 10 survivors who participated in the telephone interviews and who shared their “stories” with me, and allowed me into ii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. their lives. My appreciation and gratitude to Cecilie K., who generously allowed me to use her poems in this work. May her words touch others, as they have touched me! My gratitude and thanks to Dr. Joan Ringelheim, the Director of Oral History at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. My dissertation began with her inspirational work, and my deepest gratitude goes to her for “bailing me out” when I thought the end was in sight. Her assistance and guidance was invaluable. My thanks also to Travis Roxlau, Archivist at the Holocaust Memorial Museum, without whom I would have surely gotten lost along the way. To Dr. Richard Waite who has guided me through my doctoral program constantly reassuring my fears, and prodding me along my journey. His gentle kindness and professional assistance has been my compass in the darkness. And to Dr. Lilburn Hoehn and Dr. David Stein whose guidance, nurturing, and support has been invaluable. I have been very fortunate to have such a dedicated, hard-working dissertation committee. A special thanks to Drs. Mark and Maxine Rossman who have been supportive allies along the way. My thanks to Marilee Wilkinson and Sharon Schneider who have worked so diligently editing my work. Without them, this work would not have come to fruition. They were there when I needed them the most! My iii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. deepest thanks to my research assistant Marsha Taylor who has lovingly assisted me in this project. And to my friends who have stood by me in the last two years while I pursued my dream. Thank you Heidi and Keith