Somatic Memory of Historical Violence

Transgenerational Epigenetics of Trauma -
the Shoah, Antisemitism, and Racism

Trauma in Art & Practice

Collection of artworks, images and exhibitions photos related to transsomatic trauma

Somatic Memory of Historical Violence

Transgenerational Epigenetics of Trauma - the Shoah, Antisemitism, and Racism

MATERIALS

For further reading

1. Other scientific projects (Germany, Austria, Switzerland)

Buß, Prof. Dr. Claudia: Biologische Mechanismen der transgenerationalen Transmission früher traumatischer Stresserfahrung (Charité Berlin), 2014-2017 (GER).

Grünberg, Dr. phil Kurt: Szenisches Erinnern der Shoah – Zur transgenerationalen Tradierung extremen Traumas in Deutschland (Sigmund Freud Institut Frankfurt), 2012-2015 (GER).

HAKARA – Transgenerationalem Trauma begegnen (PresentPast, AMCHA Deutschland) (GER).

Tóth, Ass.-Prof. Dr. Erzsébet Fanni: Institut für transgenerationale Traumaforschung (Sigmund Freud Privatuniversität) (ENG).

Binder, E. Prof. Dr. (DZPG München).

Link 1 · Link 2

Borcsa, M. Prof. Dr. (Hochschule Nordhausen, 2020-2025), "Transgenerationale Effekte auf Familien nach Zwangsmigration“.

Brandl, S. Y. Prof. Dr. (Frankfurt University of Applied Science, 2022-2025). "Gruppenanalytische und tiefenhermeneutische Perspektiven auf Antisemitismuserfahrungen der Dritten Generation“.

Braun, A. K. Prof. Dr. (Universität Magdeburg, 2013-2016) “Trauma-induced transgenerational epigenetic programming of modulatory transmitter systems”.

Calvano, C. Prof. Dr. (FU Berlin, 2025-2026). „Transgenerationale Transmission von Psychopathologie und Mentalisierung: Die Rolle der Eltern-Kind-Interaktion".

Conrad, D. (Dissertation): The Biology of Mental Health After Trauma : A Multi-Method Approach to Unravel the Genetics and Epigenetics of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and its Treatment.

Link 1 · Link 2

Christiansen, H. Prof. Dr. (Universität Marburg, 2018-2023). "COMPARE Projekt – Weitergabe von psychischen Erkrankungen durch Eltern an ihre Kinder".

Entringer, S. Prof. Dr. (Charité Berlin, 2015-2018). Intergenerational transmission of health disparities among Turkish-origin residents in Germany: role of maternal stress and stress biology during pregnancy.

Entringer, S. Prof. Dr., et al. (Charité Berlin, 2015-2023). “Transgenerational transmission of maternal childhood trauma and its sequelae – Altered maternal physiology during pregnancy and implications for newborn neurodevelopment”.

Link 1 · Link 2

Fritzemeyer, Korinna (Disseration, Universität Kassel, 2019), "Intergenerationelle Weitergabe von Traumatisierungen im Kontext von kollektiver Verfolgung und Zwangsmigration”.

Hecker, T. Prof. Dr. & Kumsta, R. Prof. Dr. (Universität Bielefeld, 2020-2024) "Epigenetische Merkmale von kriegs- und konfliktbedingten Traumata - eine Untersuchung von Geflüchteten-Familien in Afrika".

Link 1 · Link 2 · Nicht transgenerational

Huber-Lang, M. Prof. Dr. & Ignatius, A. Prof. Dr. (Universität Ulm, ab 2026) "Multidimensional Trauma Sciences" (cross disciplinary research approach, Centre for Trauma Research).

Meyer, A. Prof. Dr. & Elbert, T. Prof. Dr. (Universität Konstanz; Hector Fellow Academy, 2016) "Stress & Epigenetik: Wie Fische zur Behandlung von Posttraumatischen Belastungsstörungen beitragen“; Leitung Makowicz, A. Dr. "Stress & Epigenetics: Epigenetic effects of parental stress in offspring“.

Link 1 · Link 2

Pohn-Lauggas, Maria (Universität Göttingen, 2021-2025). "Gemeinschaftsfremde" und "Staatsfeinde": Intergenerationale Handlungs- und Erinnerungsstrukturen in Familien stigmatisierter NS-Opfer in Österreich und Deutschland.

Renner, T. Prof. Dr., Löchner, J. Prof. Dr., Conzelmann, A. Prof. Dr. (Universität Tübingen). "Transgenerationale und intergenerationale psychische Gesundheit" (DZPG).

Shani, M. Dr. (Universität Osnabrück, 2024). "Juden in Deutschland - Bewältigung kollektiver Traumata und des zunehmenden Antisemitismus".

Link 1 · Link 2

Austria

Andreatta, P. Prof. Dr., Mitterhofer, H. Prof. Dr. & Schwarz, C. H. Ass.-Prof. Dr. (Universität Innsbruck). Forschungsbereich "Konflikt – Trauma – Gewalt" am Institut für Psychosoziale Intervention und Kommunikationsforschung.

Ljubojevic, A. PhD. & Bieber, D. W. Prof. Dr. (Universität Graz, 2019-2022). "Normalizing a Difficult Past? Cultural trauma and collective memory in Austria and Croatia (CULTRAMACY)".

Switzerland

Mansuy, I. Prof. Dr. & Gapp, K. Prof. Dr. (ETH und UZH, Schweiz). Meeting for Minds.

Link 1 · Link 2 · Link 3

Mansuy, I. Prof. Dr. (ETH Zürich). "Epigenetic memory and inheritance in germline".

2. Global Focus on Affected Groups

Cambodia

Romdenh-Romluc, K. & Fox, C. (University of Sheffield, 2026-2028). Cambodia: Legacies of Experience.

Colombia Missing Persons

Blanco, M. et al. (Royal Holloway University of London, 2018-2020). Embodied Performance Practices in Processes of Reconciliation, Construction of Memory and Peace in Choco and Medio Pacifico, Colombia.

Native Americans

Boyer, B. B. Prof. Dr., Dombrowski, K. Prof. Dr. (Oregon Health and Science University, 2021-2025). "The impact of enculturation on the epigenetic relationship between chronic stress and hypertension in Yup'ik Alaska Native people".

Edberg, M. Prof. Dr. (George Washington University, 2023-2027). Development of an Instrument for Assessment of Indigenous Historical Trauma as a Social Determinant of Health.

Malhi, Ripan S. (University of Illinois, 2016-2022). "Epigenomic Effects of Colonization on Indigenous Populations".

Alaska Native Communities:
Link 1 · Link 2

Redvers, N. (University of North Dakota, 2021-2021). "Historical trauma and resilience as a biological state and its association with the effects of the traditional Indigenious food chokeberry"

Williams, A. D. (University of North Dakota, 2021-2026). Stress and Health in Indian Pregnancies.

Native Australians

Brown, Alex et al. (The Kid’s Research Institute Australia, The Australian National University). Large-scale study of epigenetic landscape to understand and overcome diabetes in Indigenious Australians.

Kowal, E. , Warin, M. & Meloni, M. (Deakin University, Australia, 2019-2023). Epigenetics and Indigenious Australia.

Rwanda

Mutesa, Leon Prof. Dr., et al. (H3Africa, 2017-2022). Intergenerational Epigenomics of Trauma and PTSD in Rwanda.

Link 1 · Link 2

Borcsa, M. Prof. Dr. (Hochschule Nordhausen, 2020-2025), "Transgenerationale Effekte auf Familien nach Zwangsmigration“.

Apartheid

Meinck, Franziska Dr. (University of Edinburgh, 2020-2026). Interrupting the intergenerational transmission of violence: a mixed-methods longitudinal study in South Africa.

Transmission of Violence, not of Trauma; Not Apartheid directly, but based in South African social and political context

Johnson, Erica Prof. Dr. (Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta US, 2022-2027). The Impact of Transgenerational Racial Trauma on Epigenetic Modifications in the Mother-Infant Dyad during Pregnancy (USA Apartheid).(USA Apartheid)

Not in South Africa, but in the U.S.

Koning, S. M. Ass.-Prof. Dr. (University of Nevada, 2024-2026). "Racialized inequities in birth outcomes and maternal health following childbirth: the role of maternal early-life disadvantage, adolescent contexts, and pre-pregnancy stress" (USA Apartheid).

Not in South Africa, but in the U.S.

Vietnam

Ly, L. M. (Dissertation, Tennessee State University, 2022). "Intergenerational Transmission of Trauma in Vietnamese Refugee Families".

Other / unspecified affected groups

Carlson, T., Liebert, R. J. et al. (2023-2025, open concept). The Tīpuna Project.

Creative-community-based collaboration between activists and researchers
Link 1 · Link 2

Devlin, N. (Queen’s University Belfast, 2023-2026). "Intergenerational trauma, identity, and well-being: How the trauma of the Troubles conflict has impacted social identities in Northern Ireland".

Mulligan, C. (University of Florida), Dajani, R. (Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan), et al. "Epigenetic Signatures of Intergenerational Exposure to Violence in Three Generations of Syrian Refugees".

Link 1 · Video

Mulligan, C. (University of Florida). "Epigenetic alterations, gene expression, and stress among new mothers and neonates in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A biocultural investigation of the intergenerational effects of stress".

Link 1 · Link 2

Neumann, A. Ass.-Prof. Dr. et al. (Erasmus University of Rotterdam, 2022-2027). "Running in the FAMILY - Understanding and predicting the intergenerational transmission of mental illness".

Link 1 · Link 2

Rakyan, V. (Queen Mary University of London, 2010-2013). "A human genom-wide screen for transgenerational epigenetic inheritance".

Serafini, S. Dr. (Universita Degli Studi Di Padova, 2024-2027). "Traumatized Subjects: Mental Health, Violence, and the Fabric of Europe Between the Wars (1918-39)".

Link 1 · Link 2

Tomoda, A., Nishitani, S. et al. (University of Fukui, Japan, 2025). "Epigenetic 'Scars': Unveiling How Childhood Trauma Affects Our Genes".

Nicht transgenerational.

4. Literature and articles

Atkinson, Judy et al.: Trauma, Transgenerational Transfer and Effects on Community Wellbeing (In: Working together: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health and wellbeing principles and practice, pp.135-144), 2010 (ENG)

Atlas, Galit: Emotional Inheritance (Little, Brown Spark), 2022 (ENG)

Bar-On, Dan: Legacy of Silence: Encounters with Children of the Third Reich (Harvard University Press), 1989 (ENG)

Braunmiller, Helwi: Das weitergegebene Trauma (SRF Schweiz), 2016 (GER)

Cooks-Campell, Allaya: What is Transgenerational Trauma and how does it effect our families? (Better Up), 2022 (ENG)

DeGruy, Joy: Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome (Uptone Press), 2017 (ENG)

Deutscher Bundestag: Sachstand Transgenerationales Trauma (GER)

Drexler, Katharina: Ererbte Wunden erkennen (Klett-Cotta), 2020 (Ratgeber) (GER)

Eisenstecken, Dorothe: Transgenerationale Weitergabe von Traumata. Die Folgen des 2. Weltkriegs aus Sicht der Kriegsenkel, 2020 (GER)

Erben wir die Traumata unserer Eltern? (mdr Wissen), 2020 (GER)

Grimbert, Philippe: Secret (Granta Books), 2012. (ENG)

Gün, Ali Kemal: Das kollektive Gedächtnis vergisst nicht – Transgenerational vererbte Trauma (Anschlag Solingen) (GER)

Grimbert, Philippe: Secret (Granta Books), 2012. (ENG)

Gün, Ali Kemal: Das kollektive Gedächtnis vergisst nicht – Transgenerational vererbte Trauma (Anschlag Solingen) (GER)

Hasselmann, Silke: Bis ins vierte Glied – Traumata prägen auch die Kinder (Deutschlandfunk Artikel), 2016 (GER)

Hauser, Monika: Sexualisierte Gewalt im Kontext von Krieg und Frieden (bpb), 2023 (GER)

Kellermann, Natan P.F.

Kheirallah, Samira & Kramer, Gudrun: I come from here. Konflikttransformierende Identitätsarbeit mit palästinensischen Flüchtlingen in Jordanien, in. Zeitschrift für internationale Bildungsforschung und Entwicklungspädagogik (36) (GER)

Kizilhan, Jan Ilhan: Überlegungen zur transgenerationalen Traumatisierung und Traumabehandlung (Trauma&Gewalt), 2018, DOI 10.21706/tg-12-3-202 (GER)

Marx, Berfin: Transgenerationales Trauma (in BAM! Magazin), 2021 (GER)

Medica Mondiale Interview with Tanja Duregger, 2020 (ENG)

Medica Mondiale on Transgenerational Trauma (ENG)

Menakem, Resmaa: Webseite zu Embodied Anti-Racist Education, Buch: “My Grandmother’s Hands” (ENG)

Resmaa

Möller, Henrike: Transgenerationale Traumatisierung – Aus Wunden werden Narben (Deutschlandfunk), 2022 (GER)

Moré, Angela: Die unbewusste Weitergabe von Traumata und Schuldverstrickungen an nachfolgende Generationen (Journal für Psychologie, JG 21), 2013 (GER)

Moré, Angela: Über transgenerationale Weitergabe von Trauma (gestern ist jetzt) (GER)

Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF): Transgenerational Trauma in Palestine: A Cycle of Suffering and Survival (ENG)

Reddemann, Luise: Langzeitfolgen sexualisierter Kriegsgewalt (Medica Mondiale, Fachbroschüre) (GER)

Reuben-Shemia, Dalilah & Modalal, Miriam: When Wounds Are Passed On (forum ZFD), 2019 (ENG)

Schwab, Gabriele: Haunting Legacies: Violent Histories and Transgenerational Trauma (Columbia University Press), 2010 (ENG)

Theis, Dominik: Das unsichtbare Erbe: Wenn Opas Trauma die Enkel krank macht (Multimedia Geschichte mit Fallbeispiel) (GER)

Transgenerationale Übertragungen (Stangl Lexikon für Psychologie und Pädagogik) (GER)

Traxler, Tanja: Wie Holocaustüberlebende ihr Trauma weitergeben (Der Standard, Wien), 2015 (GER)

What is Racial Trauma? (Complex Trauma Resources) (ENG)

Wolynn, Mark: Inherited Family Trauma (Reprint Edition), 2017 (ENG)

Zettl, Stefan (Psychotherapeut): PowerPoint Präsentation (GER)

6. Media: Videos, Movies, Podcasts

Agnew, Jelan: Black Folk Mental Health: Generational Trauma, Traditions & Truth (TED Talk), 2021 (ENG)

Al Jazeera English: Colonialism: Have we inherited the pain of our ancestors?, 2019 (ENG)

Ali, Jabrea: Stop the cycle of intergenerational Trauma (TED talk), 2020 (ENG)

Bryant, Thema: You can heal intergenerational Trauma (TED talk), 2022 (ENG)

Elk, Serene Thin: What we carry for our ancestors (TED Talk), 2022 (ENG)

Genocide and Intergenerational Trauma: The Armenian & Jewish Experience (USC, panel discussion), 2021 (ENG)

Intergenerational Trauma Animation, the Healing Foundation (Australia) (Animation), 2018 (ENG)

Intergenerational trauma: Impacts of colonial history on the health & wellbeing of Indigenous people (UBC DigEM), 2021 (panel discussion) (ENG)

Intergenerational Trauma in Black Communites (Roosevelt University), 2022 (panel Discussion)

Max Planck Institut, Wissen Was mit Mr. Wissen 2 go: Trauma in der Kindheit und Folgen fürs Erbgut, 2023 (GER)

Rechavi, Oded: „Transgenerational Biology“ – The biology of heritable memories (TED talk), 2019 (ENG)

Ross, Carolyn Coker: How to maximize the gifts of intergenerational Trauma (TED Talk), 2020 (ENG)

Shorting, Matthew: Intergenerational Survivor and Healing (TED Talk), 2019 (ENG)

Yehuda, Rachel: Stress, PTSD, Intergenerational Trauma, Epigenetics & Psychedelic Medicine (Mind & Matter Podcast, Episode 67), 2022 (ENG)

Glorieuse Uwizeye, Youth Physical & Mental Health after Genocidal Rape in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

Evans, I.: The Past Does Matter: Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome, in: Into the Fold: Issues in Mental Health with Ryan Sutton (Podcast Folge 65), 2018 (ENG)

Foo, Stephanie: Therapy Ghostbusters, in: Invisibilia (Podcast Season 9, Episode 3), 2022 (Cambodian Refugees, Khmer Rouge, USA) (ENG)

Baetz, Brigitte & Longerich, Melanie: gestern ist jetzt (Podcast) (GER)

Loetz, C. & Müller J.: Der lange Schatten des Traumas – Transgenerationale Weitergabe, in: Rätsel des Unbewussten (Podcast Folge 36) (GER)

Rückert, Sabine & Sentker, Andreas mit Lili Heinemann: Düsteres Erbe: Die Blocklandmorde (Zeit Verbrechen Podcast), 2019 (GER)

Ryba-Kahn, Sharon: Displaced (Tondowski Films, ZDF), 2020 (ENG)