Intergenerational trauma is a significant theme, with each character facing the repercussions of the previous generations actions. What is your opinion on the subject?
Created: 01/11/24
Replies: 11
Join Date: 10/15/10
Posts: 3442
Join Date: 06/07/17
Posts: 76
Intergenerational trauma is a scientific theory that suggests trauma to a mother affects her fetus and its life after birth. I have a credible, science-educated friend who believes in it and that s/he is living with it, so while I may (or may not -- who knows?, lack the condition, my opinion is that it may/probably exist.
Join Date: 04/02/13
Posts: 109
Join Date: 05/26/22
Posts: 90
Join Date: 05/23/20
Posts: 165
Join Date: 05/04/15
Posts: 41
Generational trauma is a real thing, whether genetically transmitted or handed down for generations by traumatized individuals who in turn traumatize their children. It takes intentional effort to recognize one's own damage from trauma and break the cycle for future generations. Opaline, Martha, and Henry have each experienced abuse in their relationships and find the courage to seek a better path for themselves.
Join Date: 09/03/19
Posts: 208
If you are speaking in actual clinical psychological terms , as I understand it, you are referring to changes in the chemical markers on genes so this genetic adaptation is then passed on to successive generations.The adaptation can be for shame, anxiety, helplessness etc… I am no expert but that is as I understand it, and a very watered down explanation. Since my genetics class was many years ago, I won’t attempt to dive too deeply. I will say that genetics is a fascinating subject and one that there are still mysteries to solve. Even if you remove all genetic components and focus purely on imprinting and interpersonal constructs and interactions, there is no question in my mind that trauma and its resulting behaviors can be transmitted from
parent to child or throughout other close relationships. Whether intentional or unintentional we expose others to our fears, biases, and prejudices.
Join Date: 10/20/23
Posts: 19
I believe generational trauma, carried in generational memory, even if unspoken, is real. Struggling with a deep depression several years ago, an aunt informed me that "Katharine died in the asylum, you know." I did not know that, but it helped me look deeper into family stories, particularly women's stories, and realized I was not unique.
Join Date: 10/23/12
Posts: 85
Generational trauma is definitely something that lives in a person's cells. It's not easy to pull away from it. Therapy and life lessons have their place, but I don't think you ever truly lose or divorce it. You just learn how to manage it and recognize that you are the power, not it.
Join Date: 12/04/20
Posts: 151
Generational trauma is a real thing and I think that it can take multiple generations to make substantial,lasting change for the better. It can be a condition caused by one individual or generated by a society that accepts abuse of whole classes of people, women and minorities as examples.
Join Date: 08/12/21
Posts: 113
This is definitely a hot button topic for the world we are living in. I’m not well-versed in discussing the topic but as a retired educator I truly believe generational trauma does exist. We don’t discuss this in depth. After reading the book, I did a little research about generational trauma. Although some of it was very scientific, I did find the research well with reading. The research did confirm my belief that it does exist.
Join Date: 05/12/11
Posts: 27
Reply
Please login to post a response.