The aging survivor of the holocaust. Discussion: reconciliation between the generations: a last chance

Abstract

Reconciliation of conflicts between aged parents and their adult offspring is a criterion of successful aging. It requires inner psychological changes in those involved. Dr. Herzog's case history illustrates such inner change in the son of an aged father who was a survivor of the Holocaust. The patient had suffered a form of transmitted traumatization affecting his psychological development. Studies of posttraumatic reactions of survivors and of traumatization in the second generation have been reviewed briefly. Persistent aftereffects of trauma may aggravate problems of aging. As the example given in this paper illustrates, knowledge of the impact of the Holocaust experience can help us to recognize transmitted traumatization in individuals whose experiences were not related to the Holocaust.