By Hannah Emerson, Mad In America, July 30, 2019
A recent article, published in the American Psychologist, assesses the concept of historical trauma on indigenous populations, or Indigenous historical trauma (IHT), in the United States and Canada. In the first comprehensive review of its kind, the authors articulate a collective understanding of the effects of historical injustices across generations. The team of researchers, led by Joseph Gone at Harvard University, also explore whether IHT is “most helpfully conceived in metaphorical or literal terms,” and whether the concept risks pathologizing an already marginalized group.
“Psychologists, mental health researchers, and health scientists who collaborate with Indigenous populations might do well to reflect on the past achievement and potential promise of IHT,” the authors write.
“In many ways, IHT has gained traction by bringing much-needed attention to historical events and processes that have powerfully shaped the experiences of contemporary Indigenous peoples, which allows for more accurate renderings of those experiences for the benefit of both psychological science and Indigenous peoples.”
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