Historical trauma.

Historical trauma is a concept that refers to how the past experiences of a culture affect the lives of the individuals within that culture. It addresses how devastating historical experiences such as slavery or genocide—the mass extermination of people because of their race, nationality, or religion—may impact the descendants of those who experienced the initial trauma. The concept of historical trauma was initially developed through work with American Indians whose ancestors experienced many forms of oppression and loss during America’s colonization and expansion. However, the concept can apply to any cultural group that has experienced a significant past trauma. Social workers consider the potential impact of historical trauma in addressing present-day problems.