Historical Trauma: The Science Behind How Generational Trauma Impacts Us

Sometimes, you don’t have to experience a trauma firsthand to feel the effects of it. Historical trauma (or generational trauma) refers to the impacts a traumatic event has on generations of people. In the past, research on trauma focused solely on the person who encountered the traumatic event. However, in recent years, the fact that millions of families exhibit trauma responses for generations has come to light.

To explain historical trauma, we’ll explore the following questions in detail below:

• What is historical trauma and how is it transmitted?
• What are the symptoms of historical trauma?
• How can people heal?

What Is Historical Trauma and How Is It Transmitted?

Origins

Historical trauma came into the foreground in 1966 when Canadian psychiatrist Dr. Vivian M. Rakoff noticed a pattern of psychological distress among the children of Holocaust survivors. She and her colleagues published an article in Volume 14 of the journal Canada’s Mental Health.

Since then, generational trauma has been well-documented in many different contexts. Further, it transcends race, nationality, religion, gender, and culture. Here are some documented examples of historical trauma:

• African Americans – As descendants of slaves and people who have experienced acute racial discrimination, black people in the United States often display symptoms of intergenerational trauma. Compared to Caucasian Americans, African Americans have increased rates of depression, and they’re also less likely to seek out treatment. In fact, Dr. Joy Degruy even coined the term “Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome” to describe the experiences of some black people.
• Colonized indigenous groups – Throughout the world, indigenous groups have experienced the trauma of colonization. For example, Native Americans have experienced forced relocation, genocide, and a continued erasure of their cultures, languages, and religious beliefs. In addition, they face stereotypes that lead to discrimination. As a result of these historical traumas, some people in their communities have developed alcohol misuse, PTSD, depression, or suicidal ideation.
• Palestinians – 100% of Palestinians aged between 10-30 experienced a traumatic event in 2021. But even so far back as 2006, 97.2% of people in the same age groups encountered at least 6 traumatic events. So, in addition to long-standing conflict, people in Palestine find themselves fighting historical trauma. Many have adopted the behavioral patterns of the traumatized generations before them, and they experience heightened rates of depression and anxiety.

Current Understanding

Historical trauma responses can get passed down through generations for a variety of reasons, including biology, learned behaviors, and collective social experiences.

The biological basis for passing down historical trauma is still inconclusive, but some key research supports this theory. For example, in a study of mothers who experienced the Holocaust, scientists found that changes in their DNA impacted how they regulated their stress response. Their children also had these DNA alterations. On the other hand, Jewish people living in the United States during World War 2 did not have these DNA changes.

The changes indicate epigenetics markers are at play. These chemical tags demonstrate the body’s remarkable adaptivity. They attach themselves to the DNA, turning genes on and off and prompting disease or emotional symptoms.

Learned behavior occurs because parents serve as children’s educators about the world. So, if a parent is acting as if the world is an unsafe place due to trauma, their children will pick up on this and absorb it as their own. For example, an African American person may have experienced racism and experience anxiety about sending their children out into the world. The children will then internalize that anxiety and carry it with them.

Finally, collective social experiences serve as a powerful factor in transmitting intergenerational trauma. Take, for instance, the common example of women who have been abused by men. As a result, women teach girls to be hypervigilant and aware of the men around them. News stories of women who experience assault at the hands of men exacerbate and legitimize this fear, leading to the passing down of trauma.

What Are the Symptoms of Historical Trauma?

Some of the key symptoms of historical trauma include:

• Depression and suicidal ideation
• Anxiety
• Anger
• Self-destructive behavior
• Substance abuse

Please note these symptoms are not exclusive to historical trauma. People who exhibit these symptoms may or may not have generational trauma, and they may qualify for another diagnosis. So, to ensure you or your loved one receives the right type of care, please consult a mental health provider.

How Can People Heal from Intergenerational Trauma?

Recovering from historical trauma often proves a difficult task. After all, the traumatic reactions don’t just occur inside the individual. Rather, they often manifest in the community around them, shaping the public narrative.

So, this type of trauma must be treated with a two-pronged approach. First, individuals who are suffering from historical trauma should seek out professional treatment. In particular, they need to look for a therapist who has extensive training in working with the population they’re from. Unfortunately, most therapeutic measures have been tested primarily on white men living in the United States and Europe. However, the mental health field has recently pushed for therapists to gain an increased understanding of issues facing different cultural groups. Some interventions have been modified to treat specific groups, and therapists who specialize in these groups will know these modalities.

Second, people must address any currently existing exacerbations of historical trauma. For example, discrimination on the basis of gender, race, immigration status, religion, sexual orientation, or any other similar identity should be addressed on the local and national levels. Eliminating ongoing experiences of collective trauma creates a safer world for healing to take place.

However, if you’re a member of a group that experiences this type of trauma, we highly recommend you prioritize taking care of yourself. While activism is a worthwhile endeavor, looking after your mental and physical health should still be your top priority. We wish you the best on your recovery journey!