An Exemplary Life? A Personal Construct Analysis of the Autobiography of Rudolf Hoess, Commandant of Auschwitz

Rudolf Höss, commandant of Auschwitz-Birkenau, experienced guilt that diverged from conventional expectations. A detailed analysis of his autobiography revealed conflicts in self-perception, where he viewed his adult self as distinct from others while identifying with Jewish characteristics during his youth. The study employed textual grid, ABC, and self-characterization analyses to explore these inconsistencies and found that Höss rationalized his continued service in the concentration camp system, despite acknowledging guilt—albeit in unexpected contexts.

Reed, N., Winter, D., Schulz, J., Aslan, E., Soldevilla, J. M., & Kuzu, D. (2014). An Exemplary Life? A Personal Construct Analysis of the Autobiography of Rudolf Hoess, Commandant of Auschwitz. Journal of Constructivist Psychology, 27(4), 274–288. https://doi.org/10.1080/10720537.2013.849214