The intergenerational impact of trauma and family violence on parents and their children

The association between child maltreatment and juvenile delinquency in the context of Situational Action Theory: Crime propensity and criminogenic exposure as mediators in a sample of European youth?

“…From the perspective of child maltreatment or domestic violence, trauma has been mentioned as an important factor that could explain this relationship. Trauma is often a consequence of maltreatment (e.g., Lindert et al, 2014), can be transmitted over generations (Lünnemann et al, 2019) and has indeed been related to criminal involvement (e.g., Wolf and Shi, 2010). Trauma was not included in the current study, but would be a valuable addition in future studies in order to examine the relative contribution of trauma in relation to the other mechanisms as proposed by SAT.…”

Intergenerational Transmission of Relational Styles: Current Considerations

“…Consequently, caregivers may socialize their offspring, and children may also socialize their parents (Parkin and Kuczynski, 2012 ; De Mol et al, 2013 ). Another feature that is important to highlight is that the intergenerational transmission does not imply a causal relationship: the experience of dysfunctional relational styles does not necessarily entail that the children will reenact similar conducts (Cusinato, 2013 ; Lünnemann et al, 2019 ). In fact, such experience represents only one of the factors (e.g., low level of education and poverty) that may contribute to the possible manifestation of the style experienced (Whiting et al, 2009 ; Franklin and Kercher, 2012 ; Cusinato, 2013 ).…”

“…The literature suggested the possibility of the intergenerational transmission of violence (Black et al, 2010 ; Lünnemann et al, 2019 ). In fact, children who have been exposed to, or witnessed, parental violence seem to be at higher risk of exhibiting violent behaviors toward both their partner and descendants in the future (Rikić et al, 2017 ).…”

Shame in Family Systems With Developmental Trauma

“…Children learn that they can either appease parental expectations while dismissing own needs/identity or they can develop their own identity/fight to fulfill their needs but their need for parental approval may remain unmet (Loader, 1998). Parents in family therapy sessions may reexperience shame if they were involved as perpetrators or they were part of the dynamic that led to their child experiencing developmental trauma (Lünnemann et al, 2019). Parents may experience therapeutic interventions as blaming and seek to regulate the experience of shame by directing their anger at the therapist (Lee, 2001).…”

“…When a child presents with developmental trauma for mental health treatment, inclusion of their families is commonly identified as an important component of healing (Blaustein & Kinniburgh, 2018). Families with a child who has experienced developmental trauma have a higher likelihood of parents having their own trauma history, and the intergenerational nature of trauma is well-documented in the literature (Cook et al, 2005; Lünnemann et al, 2019). One of the emotions that can result from experiences of developmental trauma is an intrinsic sense of shame or worthlessness (Cook et al, 2005).…”