Magical Thinking During the Nazi Occupation in Yad Vashem Studies, Volume V

Magical Thinking among the Jews during the Nazi Occupation

Magical thinking is the result of dissonance between our will and our capacity. It may be applied positively where I think of something and want it to happen to me, or negatively when I try not to think of certain things or think they will not happen and harm me. A few examples related to the Jews in conquered Europe follow. “Don’t open your mouth to Satan” is a longtime belief that harm may follow utterance of a phrase or word. On the other hand an example of positive magical thinking is demonstrated where a parent whose children have been torn from him or her, takes in other children to care for them in the hope that such an action will result in similar pity to his or her children. All in all, those who lacked strength of will succumbed. The contrary was also true.