Language:
German
Year of publication:
2008
Titel der Quelle:
Jahrbuch des Simon-Dubnow-Instituts
Angaben zur Quelle:
7 (2008) 71-92
Keywords:
Becker, Rafael.
;
Jews Medicine 1500-
;
History
;
Judaism and science History 1500-
;
Antisemitism History 1800-2000
Abstract:
Presents views of the Russian-born neurologist Rafael Becker on the common phenomenon of "Jewish nervousness", as explained in his two pamphlets, published in 1918-19 in Zurich. Shows that his texts were a response to the biologically-oriented neurosis discourse of his time. Becker refuted the ideas of race, degeneration, and heredity as causes for Jewish neurosis, and sought explanations in sociological factors and psychology. He embraced Alfred Adler's theories of inferiority as the cause of neurosis, but argued that Jewish inferiority was caused by the disdain and hidden antisemitism of the surrounding society, as was the case in Switzerland, where Becker lived. As a short term remedy for Jewish nervousness, he stated that pedadogical, hygienic, and dietary measures could be helpful, but only Zionism could uproot its deepest causes.
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