The effects of anti-semitism on Jews in the late USSR: self-hatred and various character pathologies
State-sponsored and pervasive social anti-semitism in the late USSR led to significant psychological distress among Jews, including feelings of alienation, a damaged sense of self, and internalized anti-semitism (self-hatred), which manifested in various character pathologies and identity conflicts. [1, 2, 3]
Internalized Anti-Semitism and Self-Hatred
The primary psychological impact was the internalization of the negative messages prevalent in Soviet society. This phenomenon led to:
- Negative Self-Image: Jewish individuals absorbed societal prejudices, resulting in a negative self-image and identity rejection.
- Feelings of Inferiority and Shame: Ongoing persecution and a subordinate social position produced feelings of anger, embarrassment, guilt, and low self-esteem.
- Self-Negation: Some individuals exhibited “peculiar self-consciousness” and a tendency toward “self-negation,” attempting to deny their Jewish identity in order to be seen as “normal” Soviet citizens.
- Identity Conflict: The clash between one’s heritage and the dominant, hostile culture created significant identity conflict. [1, 2, 4, 5, 6]
Character Pathologies and Behavioral Responses
The chronic exposure to discrimination and the resulting psychological stress led to various behavioral and emotional responses:
- Alienation and Evasion: A profound sense of alienation from the Soviet system replaced any former loyalty. Many Jews sought to hide their Jewish identity, for example, by wishing for a “normal” surname that did not immediately mark them as Jewish.
- Anxiety and Fear: Jewish citizens lived with a constant fear of persecution, which was well-founded given the history of state-sponsored violence and discrimination. This fear was exacerbated by the lack of reliable official protection.
- Psychosomatic Symptoms: Studies of Jewish residents with a background of migration from post-Soviet areas have shown an increased rate of depression, anxiety, fatigue, and psychosomatic problems, such as chronic pain and psychocardial symptoms, directly linked to their experiences of anti-semitism and the transgenerational passing of trauma.
- Assimilation or Emigration: The desire to escape discrimination and psychological harm often led to thoughts of either full assimilation into the dominant Russian culture or, when possible, emigration. The large wave of Jewish emigration that began in the 1970s was a direct result of this deep alienation and rejection. [7, 8, 9, 10]
The effects demonstrate how deeply embedded state-sponsored anti-semitism damaged the mental health and self-perception of Soviet Jews, creating a “damaged identity” in response to pervasive societal and state-level prejudice. [1, 11]
AI responses may include mistakes.
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