Graduation Date
1995
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Other
Program
Arts
Committee Chair Name
Dr. Samuel P. Oliner
Committee Chair Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Dr. Paul V. Crosbie
Third Committee Member Name
Dr. Nathan T. Smith
Fourth Committee Member Name
Dr. Jerrald D. Krause
Keywords
Art
Abstract
The purpose of this thesis is to compare the motivations of rescuers during the 1992 Los Angeles civil unrest with the heroic rescuers of Jews in Nazi-occupied Europe—who were interviewed by the Altruistic Personality and Prosocial Behavior Institute. The in-depth interviews obtained from the Holocaust rescuers and the 1992 Los Angeles rescuers focused primarily on the motivating factors, that is, why did these ordinary people risk their lives to save diverse others. We asked in the open-ended questionnaire such questions as: "Tell me in your own words why did you get involved in this activity (in this rescue)?" In addition we asked questions about their upbringing, socialization, friendship with diverse groups, religiosity, self-esteem, social responsibility, the attitudes and values that the rescuers learned from their parents, or influential people in their lives, occupation of their parents, education, etc. This thesis will report the results of these findings.
Recommended Citation
Ellis, Linda E., "Historic Rescuers and their Motivations: A Comparative Study of Rescuers in the 1992 Los Angeles Civil Unrest, and Rescuers of Jews in Nazi Occupied Europe" (1995). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 2422.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/2422