
Unseen Scars
Vicarious Trauma at Holocaust Museums, Exhibitions, and Memorial Sites
Julie J. Golding(Author)
Bloomsbury Academic USA (Publisher)
Will be published approx. on 16. April 2026
Book
Hardback
192 pages
979-8-216-38122-8 (ISBN)
Description
Holocaust educators and museums face an urgent challenge: preserving the memory of genocide while protecting the psychological well-being of those who learn about it. How can they teach about historical atrocities without traumatizing the very students they aim to educate?
This groundbreaking book examines the complex intersection of trauma, memory, and education in Holocaust learning environments. Drawing on research in trauma studies, educational psychology, and museum visitor experiences, it reveals how encounters with difficult histories can either create meaningful understanding or cause psychological harm.
Julie Golding introduces practical frameworks for educators regarding trauma-informed teaching and explores concepts like vicarious resilience as alternatives to vicarious trauma. Through analysis of survivor testimony, museum exhibitions, and empirical research on student responses, the book provides concrete tools for navigating the delicate balance between historical truth and emotional safety.
Essential for educators, museum professionals, and anyone involved in teaching difficult histories, Unseen Scars: Vicarious Trauma at Holocaust Museums, Exhibitions and Memorial Sites offers both theoretical insights and practical strategies for honoring the past while protecting those who encounter it. It demonstrates how we can learn from humanity's darkest chapters without being overwhelmed by them.
This groundbreaking book examines the complex intersection of trauma, memory, and education in Holocaust learning environments. Drawing on research in trauma studies, educational psychology, and museum visitor experiences, it reveals how encounters with difficult histories can either create meaningful understanding or cause psychological harm.
Julie Golding introduces practical frameworks for educators regarding trauma-informed teaching and explores concepts like vicarious resilience as alternatives to vicarious trauma. Through analysis of survivor testimony, museum exhibitions, and empirical research on student responses, the book provides concrete tools for navigating the delicate balance between historical truth and emotional safety.
Essential for educators, museum professionals, and anyone involved in teaching difficult histories, Unseen Scars: Vicarious Trauma at Holocaust Museums, Exhibitions and Memorial Sites offers both theoretical insights and practical strategies for honoring the past while protecting those who encounter it. It demonstrates how we can learn from humanity's darkest chapters without being overwhelmed by them.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Laminated cover
Illustrations
35 bw illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 16 mm
Weight
501 gr
ISBN-13
979-8-216-38122-8 (9798216381228)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Julie J. Golding, PhD, is a Holocaust educator and museum professional, serving as the incoming Assistant Professor and Deputy Chair of the Master's in Holocaust Education at Touro University. She is also a curator at the Holocaust Museum & Center for Tolerance and Education. A Wexner Graduate Fellow and Davidson Scholar, she earned her PhD from Yeshiva University and was honored with the New York State Board of Regents Louis E. Yavner Citizen Award for excellence in Holocaust education.
Author
Holocaust Museum and Center for Tolerance and Education
Foreword
American Jewish University
Content
Table of Contents
Foreword
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Chapter 1: Difficult Exhibitions: Exploring the complexities of challenging histories
Chapter 2: Through Their Eyes: Understanding vicarious trauma and secondary traumatic stress
Chapter 3: Teaching in Tension: Holocaust pedagogy and memory education
Chapter 4: Bearing Witness: Survivor voices and testimony
Chapter 5: Unlocking the Past: The promise and perils of museum engagement
Chapter 6: Teaching with Compassion: Trauma-informed approaches in Holocaust education
Chapter 7: Vicarious Resilience
Appendix: The Auschwitz Exhibit: A Case Study
Bibliography
Index
About the Author
Foreword
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Chapter 1: Difficult Exhibitions: Exploring the complexities of challenging histories
Chapter 2: Through Their Eyes: Understanding vicarious trauma and secondary traumatic stress
Chapter 3: Teaching in Tension: Holocaust pedagogy and memory education
Chapter 4: Bearing Witness: Survivor voices and testimony
Chapter 5: Unlocking the Past: The promise and perils of museum engagement
Chapter 6: Teaching with Compassion: Trauma-informed approaches in Holocaust education
Chapter 7: Vicarious Resilience
Appendix: The Auschwitz Exhibit: A Case Study
Bibliography
Index
About the Author