ancestral trauma

Ancestral trauma refers to psychological and emotional wounds believed to pass down through generations—the idea that descendants carry effects of severe hardships their forebears endured, such as slavery, genocide, or famine.

The concept spans clinical psychology, where researchers study inherited stress responses, and spiritual traditions emphasizing healing family lineages: She works with a therapist who specializes in ancestral trauma.

Also called intergenerational trauma or transgenerational trauma.