Reflection by Elizabeth Joy Cox on journal article "The relationship of acculturation to historical loss awareness, institutional betrayal, and the intergenerational transmission of trauma in the American Indian experience"
Cromer, L. D., Gray, M. E., Vasquez, L., & Freyd, J. J.
(2018).
The relationship of acculturation to historical loss awareness, institutional betrayal, and the intergenerational transmission of trauma in the American Indian experience.
Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 49(1), 99–114. Reflection
The relationship of acculturation to historical loss awareness, institutional betrayal, and the intergenerational transmission of trauma in the American Indian experience.
Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 49(1), 99–114. Reflection
In this
article, authors Cromer, Gray, Vasquez, and Freyd draw a parallel between the
historical and multigenerational trauma experienced by Native Americans and the
traumatic effects of the Jewish Holocaust. They posit that discrimination and
ethnocide against Native Americans has made them worse off today than
descendants of survivors of the Holocaust. The colonial conquest of America
stripped Native Americans of their hunting practices, family traditions, and
cultural identity and burdened them with debt and dependency (Cromer,
Gray, Vasquez, & Freyd, 2018).
The authors
explain the difference between historical trauma and intergenerational trauma.
Historical trauma refers to “collective experience of trauma that is
perpetrated against members of a group…”. This form of trauma is held within
the group collective consciousness. Intergenerational trauma relates to
individual experiences of trauma that are transmitted from generation to
generation usually occurring within family systems. For Native Americans,
intergenerational trauma may be rooted in the history of removal of children
from their homes and families as part of the U.S. government enforced reculturation.
Atrocities such as the Trail of Tears have resulted in multigenerational trauma
(Cromer
et al., 2018).
Methodology for this study involved
enlistment of a sample group of Native Americans gathered from 19 tribes to
assess trauma in various forms. An IRB approval was obtained for the project,
and the Native American Student Union (NASU) and Native Elders contributed to
the research process. Responses from participants were made anonymous through
computerized randomization and other methods. Various scales were utilized in
the analysis including the Native American Acculturation Scale (NAAS) (Cromer
et al., 2018).
Cromer et al found that the more an
individual identified with Native American traditions and culture, the more
aware they were of historical losses. The reverse was also true - the more an
individual identified with White culture, the less they felt a sense of
historical loss. The authors explored how historical traumas have
intergenerational outcomes. They use the term ‘historical loss’ to describe the
long-term effects of marginalization and oppression of Native Americans.
Negative daily living experiences reinforce thoughts about past physical and
emotional losses. Thoughts connected to historical loss have been linked to
anger, guilt, substance abuse, and depression that has been evident in Native
American populations (Cromer
et al., 2018).
Betrayal
trauma theory puts forth that trauma experienced in the context of a close
personal relationship is more destructive than other forms of trauma. Violation
of trust is a key factor in this type of trauma. Native American children who
lived in the boarding school environments forced upon them by U.S. government
frequently experienced institutional trauma where betrayal occurred through the
system that they depended upon for survival. There were many incidences of
abuse and neglect of the Native American children in boarding schools including
one mass grave that has been unearthed (Cromer
et al., 2018).
The article
proceeds to explain the concept of ‘betrayal blindness’ - a way of coping with
trauma by repressing thoughts about the harm that has been suffered. The need
to maintain a dependent relationship with an oppressor in order to survive may
trigger this coping mechanism. Another way that members of marginalized groups
may strive to protect their cultural identities and cope with trauma is by
attempting to conceal trauma or avoid disclosure of trauma (Cromer
et al., 2018).
Enculturation
involves learning about and practicing one’s own culture in an ongoing manner.
The authors explore how enculturation and revival of traditional Native
American cultural practices and rituals are therapeutic and emotionally
protective - but they voice concern that enculturation practices may result in a
phenomenon where individuals begin to experience historical trauma and a sense
of loss. They postulate that historical trauma healing happens through a
grieving process. This process of grieving and healing fits into the framework
of institutional betrayal theory. In addition to this process, economic,
political, and social harm that have decimated Native American communities must
be repaired to support collective healing (Cromer
et al., 2018).
In my opinion, approaches to
trauma-informed teaching and therapy practices should incorporate the concepts
elucidated in this article. It is essential to adopt new approaches that foster
family system healing to remediate and prevent future intergenerational
transmission of trauma. More research is necessary in the areas of
intergenerational and historical traumas that affect marginalized groups to
refine approaches for treatment of collective trauma.
This
article brought home to me the devastating multigenerational effects of
European colonization of Native American lands and the unconscionable ethnocide that was carried out against
the Native population. To facilitate healing among those Native Americans who experience
intergenerational trauma, the dominant White European- descendant population must
acknowledge an historical responsibility to help bring about healing and homeostasis.
Citation
Cromer, L. D., Gray, M. E., Vasquez, L., & Freyd, J. J. (2018). The relationship of acculturation
to historical loss awareness, institutional betrayal, and the intergenerational transmission of
trauma in the American Indian experience. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 49(1),
99–114.
