Research article summary (published 30 Jul 2005):

Personality correlates of heroic rescue during the holocaust.

Full Abstract

This study investigated the extent to which personality variables can be used to discriminate non-Jewish heroes of the Holocaust from bystanders and from a comparison group of prewar European immigrants who left their countries of origin prior to World War II. Eighty verified rescuers, 73 bystanders, and 43 immigrants were administered measures of locus of control, autonomy, risk taking, social responsibility, tolerance/authoritarianism, empathy, and altruistic moral reasoning. A three-group discriminant function analysis was able to correctly classify 80.2% of the sample by a combination of personality and demographic variables. When the bystanders and immigrants, who differed very little from each other, were grouped together and compared to the rescuers, the personality variables alone correctly classified 93.1% of the sample. Implications regarding the relationship between personality and altruistic behavior, as well as suggestions for future research are discussed.

Author information

Author/s: Midlarsky, Elizabeth (E); Fagin Jones, Stephanie (S); Corley, Robin P (RP);

Affiliation: Department of Counseling and Clinical Psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA. em142(-atsign-)columbia.edu

Grants: AG06535 (Agency:NIA NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Journal: Journal of personality (J Pers), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2005-Aug; vol 73 (issue 4) : pp 907-34

Dates: Created 2005/06/16; Completed 2005/10/05; Revised 2007/11/14;

PMID: 15958139, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Aged Altruism Emigration and Immigration - statistics & numerical data Female Helping Behavior Holocaust - psychology; statistics & numerical data Humans Internal-External Control Jews - psychology; statistics & numerical data

Life Change Events Male Personality - classification Personality Inventory Rescue Work - methods Risk-Taking Social Support Survivors - psychology World War II

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