The effects of #antisemitism on #Jews in the late #USSR: self-hatred and various character pathologies – GS google.com/search?q=The+effe…
State-sponsored and pervasive societal anti-semitism in the late USSR had profound psychological effects on Jewish individuals, leading to internalized anti-semitism (self-hatred), alienation, and various psychological distresses and identity conflicts. [1, 2]
Internalized Anti-Semitism and Self-Hatred The constant barrage of negative messages and official discrimination led many Soviet Jews to internalize the prevailing societal prejudice. This “owning of a negative self-image” manifested in several ways:• Identity Rejection: Many individuals sought to deny or hide their Jewish identity to escape stigma and persecution.
• Feelings of Inferiority and Shame: The low social status and ongoing persecution produced a sense of inferiority, embarrassment, and shame about their heritage.
• Desire for Assimilation: A strong desire to assimilate into the dominant non-Jewish society was common, seen as a way to become “a man without blemish” or a “pure individual” free of the “sin” of being a Jew.
• Self-Negation: In some cases, this manifested as “self-negation” and the adoption of viewpoints critical of the Jewish community or supportive of the dominant culture’s anti-semitic narratives. [1, 3, 4, 5]Character Pathologies and Psychological Effects Beyond self-hatred, the anti-semitic environment fostered a range of psychological and behavioral responses:
• Chronic Fear and Anxiety: A deep, pervasive fear of persecution was common, stemming from a history of state-sponsored violence and the lack of reliable official protection.
• Alienation and Identity Conflict: The official labeling in passports and systemic discrimination prevented full assimilation and led to a profound sense of being marginal and despised, eroding loyalty to the Soviet state and creating internal identity conflicts.
• Psychosomatic Symptoms: Studies of Jewish migrants from the former Soviet Union have found higher rates of depression, anxiety, fatigue, and various psychosomatic problems, suggesting a long-lasting impact of the experienced anti-semitism.
• Secrecy and Euphemisms: Due to fear of government surveillance and punishment, Jews often felt unable to express their culture or discuss their experiences openly.
• Emigration as a Solution: For many, the only perceived escape from this psychological burden and systemic discrimination was emigration, which occurred in large numbers when the opportunity arose in the late 1970s and during Perestroika. [2, 6, 7, 8]AI responses may include mistakes.
[1] sciencedirect.com/topics/soc…
[2] dh.scu.edu/exhibits/exhibits…
[3] link.springer.com/article/10…
[4] cambridge.org/core/books/ant…
[5] history.washington.edu/sites…
[6] hrlibrary.umn.edu/ins/russia…
[7] pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/article…
[8] cambridge.org/core/books/jew…— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Nov 28, 2025
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