Intergenerational or “inherited” trauma refers to the notion that the negative effects of traumatic experiences can be passed down to future generations. Intergenerational trauma is considered to be both systemic, the result of the child or grandchild being raised in an environment shaped by the family member(s) struggling with PTSD, as well as biological, with measurable differences in the genes of descendents of survivors of traumatic events. 

Early research into the concept of intergenerational trauma was sparked by the discovery in the 1990s that the rates of PTSD among the adult children of Holocaust survivors were much higher than average. Since then, studies have shown that there are measurable intergenerational effects of traumatic experiences across populations.

To learn more about the genetic differences seen in the descendents of trauma survivors, read the work of Dr. Rachel Yehuda. 

To further explore intergenerational trauma through narratives, see Reboot’s education materials for HBO’s film The Survivor and Reboot’s conversation guide for Searchlight’s film A Real Pain.