To help explain the concept of transgenerational trauma and how it works, this article discusses:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- The classification of trauma<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What transgenerational trauma is<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- How transgenerational trauma is transmitted<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Whether insecure attachment styles can be passed on like transgenerational trauma<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The steps you can take to prevent passing on insecure attachment styles to your children<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
If you would like to know whether you have an insecure attachment style, take the quiz<\/a> on our website and receive your free report within minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Is Trauma?<\/h2>\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nTrauma can arise in various forms<\/a> and is generally an emotional response to a stressful, frightening, or distressing event, such as a natural disaster, death of a loved one, or abuse. The onset and severity of trauma symptoms can vary from person to person, but they typically include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Intense or upsetting dreams\/nightmares<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Flashbacks<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Difficulties concentrating<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Disturbed sleep<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Increases in avoidant behaviors such as detachment or lack of interest in close relationships<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Memory loss (especially around the traumatic event)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Yet, to fully understand the impact of trauma on an individual, it\u2019s essential that we assess their social context. So when we apply this consideration to a child, it means that we need to understand the family environment in which they develop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, if a child experiences a disruption to the bonding process with their primary caregiver, they may develop an attachment trauma<\/a>. This emotional wound can be overt, such as abuse or neglect, or caregiver absence for reasons such as death and divorce. However, attachment trauma can also form from more imperceptible means, such as a lack of affection or attunement from a caregiver. The consequences of attachment trauma are pervasive – beyond even what most people recognize. And this is where the role of intergenerational trauma comes into play.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Is Transgenerational Trauma?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
As opposed to trauma that directly occurs to an individual, transgenerational trauma is passed down from generation to generation through our genes and behaviors. <\/strong>This form of trauma can show symptoms on both an individual and a collective level. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, on an individual level, domestic abuse can alter someone\u2019s genetic makeup<\/strong>, therefore predisposing their children to be more sensitive to similarly stressful events. Furthermore, individual trauma can also be passed on through behaviors and attitudes; a child of someone who has experienced domestic abuse may model their caregivers\u2019 actions and internalize their attitudes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On a collective level, transgenerational trauma can be passed down through the shared experiences of groups of people.<\/strong> Also known as \u201chistorical trauma,\u201d children of repressed groups such as survivors of the Holocaust, descendants of African-American slaves, and war refugees have shown to be particularly prone to this form of trauma. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yet, despite the clear negative aspects of passing down trauma through our genes and behaviors, it must be noted that we can also pass down positive traits as a result of hardships<\/strong> – such as resilience. This effect was observed in people whose grandparents survived the Holocaust – their traumatic experiences embedded a sense of strength throughout the generations of their families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why Transgenerational Trauma is Called the \u201cPhantom\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Transgenerational trauma is often referred to as the \u201cPhantom\u201d throughout literature. This is basically because of our lack of awareness that it exists within us. The traumatic event(s) did not directly happen to us, so it lives in our subconscious and is manifested through our attitudes and actions – and unwittingly passed on to our children as a result. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This effect essentially explains how and why we may experience years of attachment insecurity without being able to figure out exactly what caused it.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
How Is Transgenerational Trauma Passed On Through Generations?<\/h2>\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nThere used to be a historical argument within the field of psychology regarding whether our environment (nurture) or our genetics (nature) exerted the most influence on the development of our traits and behaviors. The truth is that both arguments have been debunked – because it’s pretty much always both. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Epigenetics is the study of how both our behaviors and environment can influence changes in how our genes work. <\/strong>However, unlike changes to our DNA, epigenetic changes can alter how our body reads a DNA sequence. This essentially means the process of epigenetics determines whether or not certain genes are expressed and to what extent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Effectively, epigenetics explains why caregivers\u2019 trauma can affect their children even before they are born. <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The strongest evidence for the role of epigenetics in intergenerational trauma is that of distress experienced in utero and in early childhood. Although the importance of these early stages of development has been given more attention in recent years, many people may still foster the belief that \u201cthey\u2019re just a baby – they won\u2019t understand<\/em>.\u201d But this belief is unequivocally inaccurate. Babies and young children are quite adept at picking up cues from their environment – especially those related to traumatic events. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
On another note, a further environmental factor that can influence transgenerational distress is our direct response to stressors in our surroundings. How we eat and treat ourselves during troublesome times can directly influence the future of our children\u2019s health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, to simplify how transgenerational trauma is passed down through generations, it is, in essence, transmitted through epigenetics, distress during pregnancy, and early environmental factors such as conflict or traumatic events in childhood. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yet, an important final note on how transgenerational trauma occurs is that, although epigenetics plays such an integral role in how we express our DNA, epigenetic changes are reversible.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Can Insecure Attachment Pass On Like Transgenerational Trauma?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The short answer is yes.<\/strong> Just like any other form of trauma or distress, an insecure attachment style can be passed down through generations. There are a number of reasons for this effect:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Parenting Can Trigger Attachment Insecurity<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Parenting – especially for first-time caregivers – can be a stressful experience. This isn\u2019t to suggest that it\u2019s not a rewarding and loving time in peoples\u2019 lives, but someone with an insecure attachment style may re-experience the trauma from their early years when raising their children. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even if these caregivers are very capable in their parenting style, catering to an infant\u2019s needs can trigger a sense of loss regarding how their own needs were met as children.<\/strong> As a result, this resurgence of hurt may cause these caregivers to detach or inconsistently meet their childrens\u2019 needs – leaving a child feeling confused and searching for the affection and attention they crave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An Insecure Attachment May Create a Role Reversal in the Parent-Child Relationship<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
When a caregiver detaches from their child and rejects or inconsistently meets their needs, the child is forced to create their own conditions for secure attachment<\/a>. This means that they feel the need to comfort and forge closeness with their caregivers, creating a role reversal in the relationship, which can have detrimental effects on the caregiver-child bond. What\u2019s more, a child rarely has any other reference for relationships beyond that with their caregivers and close relatives, so a role reversal can have a lasting impact on their perceptions of and actions in relationships moving forward.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trauma May Cause Misattunement to Childrens\u2019 Needs<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
To develop a secure attachment style a child needs to feel safe and secure in the relationship with their caregivers, and also recognize that their caregivers are attuned to their emotions and needs. Yet, trauma can impact how caregivers cope in different ways – and some of which can prevent a child from forming a secure attachment style.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sometimes caregivers are aware of their trauma and feel guilty that these difficulties are impacting their children – often resulting in attempts to push down feelings and prevent any processing of trauma. Consequently, as children typically learn by example, a child picks up on this detachment from emotions and mirrors how their caregiver deals with unpleasant feelings – and ultimately may develop the avoidant attachment style<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the other hand, when caregiver trauma creates a role reversal in a caregiver-child relationship, a child may feel the need to comfort and take care of their caregiver – which may result in the child developing an anxious attachment style. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alternatively, if a caregiver is so heavily impacted by their feelings of trauma that they end up creating an unstable environment for their child, the child may feel afraid and unsafe within the dynamic – ultimately leading to the development of the disorganized attachment style.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not sure about your attachment style? Take our quiz<\/a> to find out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Can I Do to Prevent My Insecure Attachment Style From Passing On to My Children?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Even though our trauma can be carried within our genes, we still have the power to prevent the transmission of an insecure attachment style to our children.<\/strong> Essentially, averting this transmission follows the same guidelines for preventing transgenerational trauma – on individual, group, community, and possibly even global levels by improving current conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nWith these levels in mind, the following factors should be considered:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#1 – Prevent Transmission of Insecure Attachment Through Awareness<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Raising awareness of how trauma can be transmitted on a personal and group level may mitigate its effects. Knowledge of how trauma on an individual level can be perpetuated through misattunement to childrens\u2019 needs, and also how it can be maintained by mass events such as war and systemic racism allows us to make changes to how we handle feelings of loss, grief, and resentment – therefore, helping prevent the passing on of insecure attachment styles to our children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#2 – Recognize Strengths to Overcome Transmission of Insecure Attachment<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Strengths and resiliencies are often developed as a personal response to trauma – but can also be passed down in our genes through generations. This means that those of us who have experienced trauma – either directly or indirectly – have an inbuilt durability. This effect is a unique positive note on trauma, as it not only steers the focus of conversation to the topic, but also how to overcome it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#3 – Allow Time to Grieve<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Giving ourselves time to mourn trauma is integral in preventing its transmission to further generations. Regardless of whether this trauma happened directly to us, or whether it was passed down to us from our relatives – we need to create a mental space to process and resolve it. Of course, this doesn\u2019t mean that acknowledging and moving on from trauma is simple. Instead, it means to become more conscious of it, what led to it, and its potential effects on our well-being – such as the development of an insecure attachment style.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#4 – Emphasize Safety and Support<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
When raising a child to have a secure attachment style, two of the five conditions are \u201csafety\u201d and \u201csupport.\u201d This means that the child feels safe in their environment and supported enough to explore the unknown world around them. Therefore, promoting these conditions in our children through the exploration of feelings, thoughts, and emotions may help break the cycles of intergenerational trauma and prevent the transmission of an insecure attachment style. Check out the five conditions for secure attachment here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Final Thoughts on Transgenerational Trauma and Insecure Attachment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
As we\u2019ve discussed, although transgenerational trauma is the \u201cPhantom\u201d pain that can be difficult to detect, and sometimes even harder to understand, it can still be prevented and overcome. Whereas we outlined how transgenerational trauma can lead to a cycle of insecure attachment and how best to prevent this, if you\u2019re struggling with issues related to trauma and attachment, we recommend that you speak to a mental health professional for guidance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n