Historical trauma refers to emotional and psychological wounds passed from one generation to the next, resulting in modern psychological and physical illnesses. Native American populations are an extensively studied example, experiencing higher rates of alcoholism, suicide, diabetes, depression, and teenage pregnancy. Opponents believe current trauma drives current health problems, but historical trauma is considered an innovative concept in sociology and psychology. The subject is also studied in Jewish Holocaust survivors, African-American descendants of slavery, and war veterans.
Historical trauma refers to emotional and psychological wounds that last a lifetime and are passed from one generation to the next. The theory examines modern psychological and physical illnesses resulting from past events inflicted on a racial, religious or ethnic group. Historical trauma is based on the belief that unresolved pain from past abuse is passed from parents to children and represents a myriad of problems in certain cultures.
One extensively studied example of historical trauma focuses on Native American populations, who experience higher rates of alcoholism, suicide, diabetes, depression, and teenage pregnancy than the general population. High rates of incarceration and domestic abuse also affect American Indians. Historical Trauma examines the mistreatment of these peoples by early American settlers, missionaries, and educators, and how that history affects current behavior.
Some researchers believe that retelling stories about how these people were driven off their land and confined to remote reserves contribute to social and physical problems. Native Americans tend to relive injustices and pass on feelings of loss to children, experts have found. One study theorized that Native Americans believe that suffering from past trauma is a way to honor their ancestors.
Psychologists who work with these groups try to help people understand history as the root of their current problems. They aim to deal with the unresolved pain that contributes to relationship and personal difficulties without forgetting the past. Historical trauma is considered a fairly innovative concept in sociology and psychology in the field of mental health.
Opponents of the theory believe that current trauma drives current health problems. They look at domestic abuse incidents, for example, which could lead to alcoholism and depression. When people become depressed or abused, they are at greater risk of physical ailments and less likely to seek medical care, opponents say.
Historical trauma is also a subject of study involving Jewish Holocaust survivors, African-American descendants of slavery, and war veterans. Explore how deprivation and group pain from external events in history affect subsequent generations. In war veterans, the effects of PTSD could affect parenting skills.
A study delves into how individual memories evolve into collective memories among these groups of people. This may be especially true for people who have been confined due to their race, ethnicity or religion. Whether starvation, physical or sexual abuse, or severe punishment has occurred, the pain remains in their collective consciousness and is passed down from generation to generation, according to the study.
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