Intergenerational Trauma Assignment Report

Running Head: INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA
INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA
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INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA 2
Introduction
Trauma is the ability of a person to respond to a significant disastrous occurrence that in
the long run, leaves an individual with difficulties in overcoming it. In particular cases, trauma is
passed from one generation who were the first to witness it or who directly experienced it and
then passed it to another generation. The latter is called intergenerational trauma.
Intergenerational trauma can be passed from one generation to another through parenting
practices, conduct challenges, violence, dangerous substance use, and mental health problems.
Native Australians have experienced cases of trauma due to colonization. The latter
includes violence, loss of Australian culture, and land. Intergenerational trauma was also caused
by policies like the mandatory removal of children. In many communities in Australia, the
intergenerational trauma continues to be passed from generation to the other, creating very
adverse effects (Judy , 2013). Investigation shows that individuals who experience trauma have
high probabilities of engaging in self-destructive behaviors, develop cycle disease, and finally
enter and stagnate in the criminal justice scheme.
The devastating experiences related to intergenerational trauma include self-harm,
suicide in indigenous societies, increased poor health, mental health challenges, domestic
violence, and incarceration. Increase in the number of individual with poor health can cause a
vicious cycle in indigenous Australian societies.
Recent research shows that almost a third of all youthful aboriginal and Torres Islander
individuals have been reported to possess high levels of psychological distress. The ages for
these people are between 16-24 years (Juanita , 2015). The latter is double the rate of non-
indigenous young Australians. The Australian Bureau of Statistics identifies trauma as a crucial
issue that is experienced among the indigenous people.

INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA 3
Research also shows that historical trauma transmission occurs when a dreadful
occurrence invades a group of people who share a particular identity or affiliation (Sarah &
Cathy , 2016). The latter leaves persons not able to know what has come to them, and this
leads to social and psychological complications. In this case, collective suffering and the
unresolved trauma experiences are passed down to future generations (Sarah & Cathy , 2016).
Intergenerational trauma is associated with disruptions in parenting practices, which is related to
evil conduct, violence, harmful substance, and use. The youth that suffers from intergenerational
trauma engage in self-destructive behavior and drug abuse. The latter leads to poor health,
mental incapacities, and suicide. Such issues are high in the indigenous people.
Colonization led to the marginalization of aboriginals for a long time. They faced high
rates of unemployment, poverty, and ill-health and violence (Atkinson & We , 2015).
Intergenerational trauma was initially caused by the mandatory removal of children from their
families, outlawing of the ancient ceremonial practices and stripping off might from people and
community elders. The aboriginal women have been a target for the colonial policy. The latter
has led to the marginalization of women, and hence, this has made them a weaker populace.
Before colonization, the indigenous societies valued both men and women and acknowledged
their roles. The roles changed after the introduction of the patriarchal system and the sexist
legislation. The Indian act was used to define who Indians were and who were not, administer
the Indian lands and give a concentration of authority to the Indian people (Beverley, Patricia ,
& Martinek, 2014).
The marginalization of Aboriginal women was triggered by the removal of children from
the residential school system and the sixties scoop. The mandate behind the latter was to ‘kill the
Indian and save the child (Aguiar & Halseth, 2015).' The sixties scoop led to the cultural