Echoes of the Past

Generational trauma — also referred to as Intergenerational trauma or Transgenerational Trauma — is a repetition of some traumatic experiences passed down from the ancestors to the descendants, taking forms in emotional, behavioral, and even psychological ways. [1] The triggering factors can either be personal, as in the behavior of traumatized parents projecting it on their child, or be collective, like racism, violence, and other types of oppression and tragedy. [2]

It was discovered that the survivors of the Holocaust had shown changes how they responded to stress, indicating a change in their genetic makeup. The after effects continued, even after the end of World War II, as they settled in another country. [3] Their stress levels still never improved, which puts their next generation at risk. There were many studies conducted at the beginning of the 1970s, following many decades. However, the researchers failed to find any effects in the offspring caused by the traumatic experiences of their parents. They did not show signs of more psychopathology than others did. [4] However, they showed increased susceptibility to PTSD, struggling with individuality, and a combination of resilience and vulnerability when facing stressful situations.

Afghans have endured for more than forty years of continuous conflict, which first began with the Soviet Invasion in 1979, followed by a civil war, the rise of the Taliban, and war, and instability. These cycles of violence forced millions of refugees to evacuate and settle in camps in Pakistan, Iran, and beyond. Others suffered by losing their loved ones to bombings and political persecution. A survey conducted in 2018 by the EU found that 85% of Afghans had witnessed at least one traumatic event. [5]

In the present, there are discussions on the impact of historical events such as colonization, slavery, and the forced eviction of many cultures, including First Nations and American Indian communities [6],[7], African Americans, Australian aboriginals, as well as societies exposed to genocide, ethnic cleansing, or war. Examples include Palestinians, Cambodians, Armenians, and communities of Yugoslavia.

The Tulsa Massacre was one of the most racially motivated massacres in US history, in which a thriving black community known as “Black Wall Street” was destroyed. White mobs looted and burned over a thousand Black-owned homes and businesses. Even though the Oklahoma Bureau of Vital Statistics estimated that 10 white people and 26 Black residents died in the eruption of violence, the Tulsa Reparations Coalition's examination of events identified 39 dead, 26 black and 13 white, based on contemporary autopsy reports, death certificates, and other records. [8] Survivors lost their loved ones and property. To make matters worse, their insurance claims were denied, and the culprits were let off the hook. Many families were left impoverished, and the silence that followed deepened the psychological scars.

Factors besides history, including poverty and chronic social inequality, also give rise to trauma regulation in generations trapped in cycles are deprived of education, healthcare, safe housing, and face stress and instability. Domestic violence and abuse can shape a child's emotional development and often get passed down when left unaddressed. Forced migration and refugee experience — as it is happening in Palestine — strips families of their culture and belongings, causing psychological scarring. In all cases, trauma is not only a result of a single event but also continuous conditions that destabilize identity, trust, and well-being.

Generational trauma that the past does not always stay in the past; it traces down to the latest victim. From the racial violence in Tulsa and the four-decade war in Afghanistan, history continues to live in the present through cycles of inherited pain. But, this also teaches two crucial pointers — survival and resilience. Looking ahead, the process of healing can be improved by acknowledging historical injustices, creating open spaces for discussions on intergenerational trauma, investing in improving mental health care, and being vocal about injustices that cause harm. Education, truth-telling, and cultural preservation can help the younger generation understand their struggles while improving their recovery journey. By combining personal healing with systemic change, the future offers the possibility of breaking the trauma cycle and transforming it into resilience and growth.

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