When I was still in my psychiatric residency training in New York City, I was subjected to the doctor draft of that time, during the early fifties, at the time of the Korean War. Robert Jay Lifton citydoctordraft Change image and share on social
It may sound terrible, but I often say that the military saved me from a conventional life in the United States and I've never really thanked them for it, because I haven't exactly been pro-military in my work. Robert Jay Lifton conventionalhavelife share on social
I did the first study because I had been exposed to something that I took to be important and interesting - this thought reform process - in the military. Robert Jay Lifton exposeimportantinterest Change image and share on social
The other thing that happened was my last military assignment - this was in the air force; I had enlisted in order to avoid being drafted as a private, and of course I only practiced medicine or psychiatry in the air force so I was never in any kind of violent combat. Robert Jay Lifton airassignmentavoid share on social
But when I went to Hiroshima and began to study or just listen to people's descriptions of their work, it was quite clear they were talking about death all the time, about people dying all around them, about their own fear of death. Robert Jay Lifton begincleardeath share on social
As a kid I was fascinated with sports, and I loved sports more than anything else. The first books I read were about sports, like books about Baseball Joe, as one baseball hero was called. Robert Jay Lifton baseballbookcall Change image and share on social
I'm a Brooklyn boy. I was born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised there, and spent most of my childhood there. Robert Jay Lifton bearboybrooklyn Change image and share on social
I never quite envisioned myself a proper doctor under that white coat, but I was interested in the idea of healing and in the psychological dimension rather early on. Robert Jay Lifton coatdimensiondoctor Change image and share on social
Again, I was influenced by my father, who was very much an atheist and took pride in combating the traditional or orthodox forms of Judaism, which his parents and which my mother's parents were very steeped in. Robert Jay Lifton atheistcombatfather share on social
Sometimes it's said that psychiatrists are doctors who are frightened by the sight of blood. I might have fallen into that category. Robert Jay Lifton bloodcategorydoctor Change image and share on social
