Historical Trauma is a cumulative and collective psycho-social-spiritual wounding experienced by successive generations originating in massive group trauma such as genocide, racism, or war which continues to affect individuals in the present day. Historical trauma is a group-level phenomenon which is distinct from classical psychological trauma which results from individual instances of trauma.

Suffolk University

Extreme injuries (trauma) that results in damage to the mental or psychological state of the individual. 

Trauma (Psychological)

Gone, J. P. (2013). Redressing First Nations historical trauma: Theorizing mechanisms for indigenous culture as mental health treatment. Transcultural Psychiatry, 50(5), 683–706. 


Redressing First Nations historical trauma: Theorizing mechanisms for indigenous culture as mental health treatment

Malherbe, N. (2022). De-ideologization, liberation psychology, and the place of contradiction. Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour, 52(2), 298–314. https://doi-org.ezproxysuf.flo.org/10.1111/jtsb.12322


De-ideologization, liberation psychology, and the place of contradiction

Brave Heart, M.Y.H. (2011). Historical Trauma Among Indigenous Peoples of the Americas: Concepts, Research, and Clinical Considerations. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs. 43 (4), 282–290, 2011. DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2011.628913


Historical Trauma Among Indigenous Peoples of the Americas: Concepts, Research, and Clinical Considerations

This includes the intersection of trauma (psychological) in other fields of study and research. Such fields include
- Clinical Psychology
- Criminology
- Health Psychology

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