Approaches to Study of Transgenerational Transfer of Psychosocial Trauma

Authors

  • Ximena Faúndez Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
  • Marcela Cornejo Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Abstract

This article revises the key studies carried out regarding torture under the Chilean military dictatorship, and analyses how these studies have approached the transgenerational consequences of torture at a family level. It revises the concepts of torture, trauma and transgenerational transmition, emphasising the idea of torture as psychosocial trauma. With a focus on mechanisms and content, it presents the theoretical developments and principal findings of empirical works undertaken in Chile and other parts of the world about transgenerational transmission of trauma to the second and third generation. Finally, the material presented is discussed, giving rise to some theoretical and methodological considerations for future studies at a national level.    

Keywords:

Torture, psychosocial trauma, transgenerational transmission