ISSN 1671-3710
CN 11-4766/R

Advances in Psychological Science ›› 2013, Vol. 21 ›› Issue (9): 1667-1676.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1042.2013.01667

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The Intergenerational Transmission of Trauma

LIN Yao;WU Heming;SHI Qijia   

  1. (1Institute of Applied Psychology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China) (2 Wuhan Mental Health Center Affiliated to Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan Hospital for Psychotherapy 430019, China)
  • Received:2012-11-01 Online:2013-09-15 Published:2013-09-15
  • Contact: SHI Qijia

Abstract: The consequences of traumatic events are not limited to the persons immediately exposed to the event, and they often affect her or his offspring. The previous studies discussed the influence of the intergenerational transmission of trauma from the parents, children and the environment and found that the transmission of trauma was mainly manifested by symptom, task and identity. It also explained the mechanisms of the intergenerational transmission of trauma with psychological dynamics, socio-cultural, family systems, physiology and meaning of existence. The further studies should be paid more attention to the differences in the manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment among the different generations in the process of the transmission of trauma, and then concerned with the positive significance of intergenerational trauma, valued the intergenerational transmission of domestic collective trauma, such as the culture revolution and wars.

Key words: trauma, intergenerational transmission, transmission