The traumatized child and the adult: compound personality in child survivors of the Holocaust.

Abstract

The massively traumatized infants, children or young adolescents who survived the Nazi Holocaust seem to retain it as part of their personality even though they are now in their fifties and sixties. The concept of Compound Personality, introduced in this article, attempts to explain the coexistence and inner dynamics of the traumatized child and age-appropriate adult making up the personality of these survivors. Child survivors are roughly divided in three subgroups of Compound Personality, according to the degree of dominance of the traumatized child or adult component, at specific stadia in their lives. Illustrations are given with examples from clinical practice. It is hoped that therapeutic interventions can thus be chosen more appropriately. Emphasis is placed on the need to assess and respect the capabilities, strengths and choice of coping styles of the individual survivor.