Cross-Generational Trauma

Posted on December, 8th, 2025

Dan Siegel describes cross-generational trauma as the way that traumatic experiences can be passed down from one generation to the next, impacting not only a person's psychological experiences but also their biology. He explains that trauma doesn't exist in isolation; it shapes individuals, families, and cultures. This transmission of trauma can influence things like gene expression and personality. 🧬

The Mechanisms of Transmission

Siegel highlights that trauma can be passed down in a few key ways:

Epigenetics: Siegel points to the field of epigenetics, which studies how your environment and experiences can alter gene expression without changing your actual DNA sequence. For example, he mentions how a child in the womb of a mother experiencing extreme stress, such as war, may develop epigenetic adaptations that affect their stress regulation. These changes can then be inherited by future generations.

Attachment and Relationships: Trauma can disrupt the ability of an individual to form secure attachment relationships. Insecure attachment, which can result from caregiver neglect or abuse, can undermine a child's normal brain development, affecting their ability to regulate emotions and form healthy relationships later in life. This pattern can then be passed down as parents who haven't resolved their own trauma may have difficulty being attuned to their children.

Healing Cross-Generational Trauma

According to Siegel, while trauma can shape your personality, healing can restore integration. Integration is a core concept in his work, referring to the linkage of different parts of a system, whether within a single person's mind or between individuals in a relationship. When the brain is integrated, it functions optimally, leading to flexibility, adaptability, and coherence. Healing from trauma involves re-integrating the brain.

Siegel suggests that self-compassion, presence, and somatic awareness (mindfulness, breathwork, movement therapy) can be transformative because trauma is stored in the body. He emphasizes that the past is not destiny, and through awareness and integration, it is possible to reshape narratives and break cycles of intergenerational trauma.