Psychotherapeutic Work with Intergenerational Trauma
Interrupting intergenerational cycles of trauma and violence Part II
In this presentation, Clinical Psychologist, Dr Pamela Alexander, author of Intergenerational Cycles of Trauma and Violence: An Attachment and Family Systems Perspective (W.W. Norton, 2014), discusses the significance of research that predicts the dynamics of future intimate partner relationships and parenting abilities from early childhood attachments, showing how the parent-child attachment relationship can either exacerbate or mitigate against the effects of a history of maltreatment on intergenerational cycles of violence. We will see that intimate partner violence both results from a history of child maltreatment and contributes to these intergenerational cycles through the impact on the child’s ability to regulate emotions and through internal working models of self and other. The trauma history of both partners in childhood is found to be important, however most parents who experienced violence in childhood do not become abusive towards their own children or partners. How they are somehow able to interrupt the intergenerational cycle of trauma is of great interest as we can learn from the types of resilience these people display. We will see that alternative sources of attachment, such as a therapist or at least one non-abusive parent, can counteract the effects of a history of maltreatment and interrupt the cycle of violence before it reaches the next generation.
both videos very complete, I appreciated the quotes of theory and experiment and clinical experience, the support of text and synthesis to extract the essential. Absolutely usefull in my clinical work.
Very clear in theoretical terms and useful in application in therapy. Hopeful too – that the intergenerational cycles of violence (and other behaviours) can indeed be broken.
This was a useful overview and broad explanation of the relationship between attachment and intergenerational trauma, as well as the myriad of contexts that heighten the likelihood of trauma transmission within families and couples. It was striking to learn that research done around abuse has shown that people who have undergone abuse within their families of origin don’t necessarily experience their abuse as traumatic experiences. It would be helpful to find out more about what role environments outside of the family of origin, e.g. school, extended family, wider community etc. play in disrupting or mitigating trauma for individuals.
I don’t agree with the naming of boys to ‘more likely to be physically/overtly victimised’ and girls ‘more likely’ to be’…….’ , as this just drives a societal assumption out of biological differences, that in itself requires real attention so we can accept physical expression of tension in our body as a normal and healthy way of processing and regulating our emotional system state (female OR male). To just mention it, is to skim over a huge part of society that needs to be dissected and discussed also, this could be added to, so to mention it subtlety is to keep on the paternalising routinal controlling of girls/women to repress their emotions/anger, to shame them, to make them feel guilty for not always having someone else in their best interests or held first, before oneself.
To mention it here, I can understand may inform some to be vigilant to more subtle ways of abuse happening among peers, but it really is keeping lock on a structure of our recent societies guilt-inducing coercion because it makes it easy to take it for granted when comments are made like these, somewhat dismissively. I think it’s important to stem as little away from divisive and gender-defining roles as possible when making analysments/lectures on subjects. In fact gender-defining, and divisive comments can be taken as a great hint there’s something deeper embedded to look at, to Not be taken for granted, and to unearth.