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Tuesday, December 1, 1998

Hitler's darkest aspects psychoanalyzed in book

REDLICH: Illnesses of body, mind not totally to blame for cruelties of dictator

By Sarah Krupp

Daily Bruin Contributor

During World War II, the United States created a psychological profile of Adolph Hitler in order to destroy him. Now, scientists are psychoanalyzing him to prevent the rise of another such destructive demagogue in the future. According to conventional psychological diagnosis, Hitler was psychotic.

However, "Hitler: Diagnosis of a Destructive Prophet," a biography by UCLA professor Fredrick Redlich, asserts that while Hitler was "abnormal," he did not suffer from any serious mental illness.

While Redlich argues Hitler had "enough (mental disorders) to fill a psychiatric textbook," he goes on to conclude that Hitler's physical maladies were more detrimental than his psychological problems. According to Redlich, none of Hitler's psychological problems were responsible for the atrocities he committed.

In fact, according to Redlich, Hitler's physical ailments were so severe that he could have never been a democratic leader. Also, Hitler could not have been a member of the "superhuman" race he proposed.

Hitler's incessant afflictions included headaches, dizziness, severe bloating, abdominal spasms, belching and constipation. He was also a victim of coronary heart disease and hypertension, and later developed Parkinson's disease.

In his psychological assessment, Redlich diagnoses two additional afflictions which would help to explain behavior previously attributed to insanity. Many students, however, do not believe that Hitler can be psychologically assessed.

"I don't think its possible for anyone to diagnose Hitler after his death. How can you know whether or not he was insane without evaluating him in person?" said Soheila Nazariah, a third-year psychology student.

According to the medical journals of Hitler's personal physician, Redlich hypothesizes that Hitler suffered from both spina bifida oculta and urethra hypospadia, both associated with genital dysfunctions.

According to Redlich, these abnormalities could explain Hitler's obsession with hand washing and his aversion to sex, disproving theories of sexual perversion.

Redlich added that Hitler maintained syphilis was a "Jewish disease," which he had inherited from his father, who he thought was half-Jewish.

Though there is no evidence to substantiate Hitler's convictions, Redlich believes the dictator's self-diagnosis stemmed from his interpretation of symptoms due to other disorders.

By this rationale, Hitler's desire to create a German "superhuman" race was in part a compensation for physical weaknesses, Redlich said.

In addition, many of the ideas which Hitler promoted were already prominent in German culture.

"Hitler alone doesn't explain the Holocaust. There was a sense of national indignity, great economic instability, and a culture of political violence," said David Myers, the director of the Center for Jewish Studies.

"Hitler may have been obsessed, but he did not drive the engine. All of these (pre-existing) things open the door to genocide," he said.

According to Chaim Seidler-Feller, director of Hillel, UCLA's Jewish Center, it is important to realize that sane people also commit evil acts. If humans are aware of this fact, it will be easier to avoid future genocide.

"Believers defend their traditions on the grounds that the people who perpetrate evil are sick or deviants, when in reality they are acting upon the ideals which they are taught," he said.

Redlich's psychiatric diagnosis also includes a list of Hitler's phobias, which included a fear of water, and numerous psychological disorders, such as depression, narcissism, anxiety, and paranoia.

Redlich, however, did not find any evidence to suggest true mental illness.

In fact, no one would have guessed that the young Hitler would "try to destroy the world," Redlich said.

Investigation into Hitler's childhood has revealed little more than a "pugnacious boy" with a propensity to be overly competitive, Redlich said.

As primary sources become more scarce and evidence is exhausted, Redlich suggested the next focus of study should be to examine Germany and to try and understand "why they (a majority of Germans) venerated and adored Hitler, and why they closed their eyes to the crimes."

As a victim of the Holocaust, Redlich speaks personally of the crimes. His book is an "answer" to Hitler and an attempt to prevent a repetition of the horrors of the Holocaust.

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