1 The Multigenerational Transmission of Social TraumaAnna Varga, Society for Family Counselors and Therapists, Moscow, Russia Elena Cherepanov, Cambridge College, Boston, USA EFTA, Athens 2016

2 Cambridge College, Boston, MA USAMy co-author Elena Cherepanov, PhD Cambridge College, Boston, MA USA

3 The Bowen Theory about social traumaSocial trauma rises anxiety in society Societal anxiety leaks into family emotional system Anxiety lowers the level of functioning in both social systems – society and family The long trauma lowers the level of differentiation in population

4 Family Systems are traumatized bydramatic family changes (death, unknown absence, an arrest) violent change of habitat (forced migration) long deprivation of basic needs of family members (hunger, poverty, loss of territorial control) social censure traumatic factor, fear to show the grief

5 Social traumas in United States of America in XX centuryGreat Depression People suffered from hunger. No information how many people died from starvation World War I – dead Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor – 2403 killed, 1178 injured World War II – dead The Vietnam War – dead 9-11 ( Twin Towers) – 2977 dead

6 Social traumas in Russia in XX centuryWorld war I – 1,7 million dead October Revolution and Civil War – 9 million dead Destruction of the “Kulaks” – 4 million dead Starvation million dead Stalin’s repressions – 5,5 million dead Forced migration – 1.5 million dead Starvation – 7 million dead World War II – 20 million dead

7 the number of victims of social disasters of the 20th centuryRussia The United States of America dead dead

8 Collective trauma inflicted familiesWomen centered families Wide spread of alcoholism and tolerance to alcoholic behavior in society. People don’t know their ancestry Emotional fusions and cut-offs as a major pattern of relations

9 How trauma-centered mentality influence generationsExperience of survivor is saved in family in: memoirs, behavioral stereotypes, in rules how to react emotionally on different events, in proverbs and survival messages

10 How trauma-centered mentality influence generationsSurvival mode is the way of functioning where an individual strives to accomplish immediate survivor tasks. In short run it is effective. It is maladaptive and interfere with long-term post-trauma adjustment. Family desire to protect progenies from a similar pain and fate and to increase their chances to survive. This shapes the transgenerational aspect of survivorship, that is, when a female victim of abuse teaches her daughter never to trust men.

11 Study of survival messages in two culturesThis is a pilot study. We investigate the difference between survival messages in two cultures – trauma centric Russia and non-trauma centric USA. Sample: 22 Russian and 23 American postgraduate students Questionnaire about family survival messages.

12 Examples of survey questionsWhat is the most important experience of survival has been in your family? What helped overcome adversity? What should I avoid? Who should avoid? What is said about the meaning of suffering? The requirements regarding food? Regulations on how to interact with the authorities in the lurch?

13 Data processing сounted the amount of text when answering each question of the questionnaire. It was an indirect indicator of the significance of the issue conducted content analysis of the answers

14 The template for content analysisPrescriptions about skills and abilities. (i.e. regulations about education, profession, prescriptions on how to solve problems) Regulations about the tools of survival (i.e.to save, stock up and preserve, to make plans/don’t make plans) Prescriptions about how to treat the difficulties (to avoid , to prepare for trouble in advance) Regulations on where to look for sources of strength, resources (faith, hope, positive outlook, to work hard…)

15 The template for content analysisThe sources of support (family, friends..) Messages generated by traumatic experience (don’t hope, don’t trust the state of the authorities, strangers, don't ask for help; rely on yourself don't show weakness and fear) Regulations on the behavior, actions how to be safe, what to avoid, the value of compassion and helping other people

16 Results: the amount of text

17 Results: content analysis, general categories

18 Results: content analysis. Prescriptions about skills and abilities.

19 Results: content analysis. Regulations about the tools of survival

20 Results: content analysis. Where to look for sources of strength

21 Results: content analysis. The sources of support

22 Content Analysis. Messages generated by traumatic experience

23 Results Main differences:Non trauma centric Society: Pro-social orientation, trust people, ask for help, help others, be ethical, be social competent, be professional. Trauma centric Society: no one to trust, no one to help, to rely on themselves and their families, to their own spirituality, to hoard, to stock, to be able to solve problems. There is no regulation about the ethics, about the value of the profession and pro-social orientation.

24 Family level of differentiation lowered by social traumas

25 Family which level of differentiation was not influenced by social traumas

26 Thank you! Anna Varga,Ph.D, Society for Family Counselors and Psychotherapists, the Head of Masters Programme on Systemic Family Therapy Psychological Department of High School of Economy, Moscow, Russia