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
It was because of my deep concerns about nuclear weapons that I went to Hiroshima. And then I was astounded in Hiroshima to find that nobody had really studied it. Robert Jay Lifton astoundconcerndeep 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
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
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
Every adult in the world has some sense that he or she might be obliterated at any time by these weapons that we have created. Robert Jay Lifton adultcreateobliterate 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
I learned a lot from Vietnam veterans, especially as some of them turned against their own war. Robert Jay Lifton learnlotturn Change image and share on social
And I thought about the psychic numbing involved in strategic projections of using hydrogen bombs or nuclear weapons of any kind. And I also thought about ways in which all of us undergo what could be called the numbing of everyday life. Robert Jay Lifton bombcalleveryday share on social
