The Controversy of Intergenerational Trauma & Therapy

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The Controversy of Intergenerational Trauma & Therapy Loretta Gurule Northern New Mexico College Department of Integrated Humanities and Social Sciences Concentration in Psychology Qualitative Literature Review, Cont… Abstract Statistics/Sampling • Exploratory Research • Critical to the Traditions and • Culture of Indigenous or Native Communities-- • mainly literature review methods • Investigation of Historical Trauma • Integration of Therapies • Conventional • Traditional • Proposed Research Methods • Survey Questionnaire • Oral History • Literature Review • Total Sample Size • N = 45 • 26.67% Indian Descent • 73.33% Other Ethnicities Historical Loss Scale Historical Loss Associated Symptoms Scale (Generations Detached from Historical Trauma) (Daily Reflections) 36% - Loss of Traditional Language 34% - Loss of Culture 24% - Anger Toward Historical Losses 49% - Disturbed by Losses 46% - Alcohol Dependency 22% - Uncomfortable Among Whites 35% - Distrusted White Population • Population Native American Indigenous Groups Other Ethnicities • Random Sampling Best Sampling: Yields Most Unbiased Results Not Utilized in this Study: Limited Time/Small Sample Size • Survey – Questionnaire Los Alamos National Laboratory (Various Ethnicities) Northern New Mexico Pueblo Indian Snowball Sampling One Shot Oral Historical Narrative Table 3. Storytellers and Comments on New Mexico’s Conquest by the Spanish. ****************************** Impact on Native American Population • Alcohol Abuse and Illicit Drugs • 14.1% Native American • 10.4% Latinos • 9.5% African American • High Rates of Alcohol-Related Mortality • Chronic Liver Disease • Deaths from Cirrhosis • Double Unemployment Rate Quantitative Table 1. Sample Comparison (Age/Ethnicity) • Recurring Theme (Spanish Conquest) • “Brutality and Disgusting” Emotions • “Past is Past” • “Heal by Helping Each Other to Overcome Introduction • Exploratory Study Intergenerational Trauma Suffered by Diverse Indigenous Groups in Northern New Mexico • Intergenerational Trauma Historical Events Emerging Behaviors in Subsequent Generations Due to the Loss of Culture, People, Land, and Families • Psychological Healing (Effective Therapy) Retention of Culture and Tradition Process Toward Healing Adaptation to Diverse Cultures and Traditions ****************************** Current Traditional Therapies ****************************** Additional Qualitative Comments • Native Identity Scale (NIS) Studies • Walking On, Community-Based Research • White Bison Wellbriety Movement • Gathering of Native Americans (GONA) • Positive Indian Parenting (PIP) • Red Road to Wellbriety • Journeys of the Circle • Prejudism • Bicultural Issues • Ceremonial Traditions • Oppression of Non-Natives • Imposition of Beliefs on Other Cultures • Traditions/Culture • Shape Our Identities • Religion/God • Guidance • Tolerance/Respect • For All Involved Results/Conclusions • Limited Sample Size, Population,Timeframe • Consequences of Intergenerational Trauma • Affect All Ethnicities • Aspects Affecting Indigenous Communities • Intergenerational Trauma • Individual Experiences • Environment • Current Culture and Traditions • Integrating Traditional/Conventional Therapy • Respect • Family Connectedness • Forgiveness • Self-Identification • Religion/Spirituality • Harmony/Balance • Generalizability All Ethnicities Suffer Trauma Varying Degrees/Domination Collectively versus Individually • Emerging Behaviors and Attitudes • Substance Use/Abuse Alcoholism Diseases/Death Violence Lack of Self-Esteem Lack of Self-Identification Unemployment Discrimination (All Communities) • Traditions - Subsequent Generations • Acclimation into Euro-American Society • Adjusted to Living Between Two Worlds • Further Research • Additional Insight into Trauma • Consequences to Indigenous Communities • Sample Comparison of Age and Ethnicity • Disparity Between Participants • Participants (42) • Hispanics (18) versus Indians (9) • Mode (Most Popular) Ages 30 – 59 Literature Review Theory Brief Historical Trauma Timeline 1598 - Spanish Conquest 1680 - Pueblo Indian Revolt 1780 - Disease – Population Devastation 1821 - Mexican Occupation 1846 - New Mexico Annexation -United States 1879 - Railroad/Albuquerque Indian School • Goal of Study Update/Add to Current Theories Address Source of Intergenerational Trauma Address Current Therapies • Therapeutical Integration Effectiveness through Acknowledgment Unresolved Grief Anger Source of Violence Self-Esteem Self- Identification • Interconnectedness Recapture Culture/Traditions Healing Through Acknowledging the Past Table 2. Univariate Results(Attachment to Culture/Traditions)(Strongly Agree) ****************************** Carlisle Experiment of 1879 • Purpose Eliminate Traditions and Cultural Identity Assimilate into Euro-American Society • Boarding School Era Lack of Affection for the Children Disrespect of Language and Religion Emotional Abuse, Shame, Humiliation in Being Indian • Unresolved Grief/Trauma Transmission - Subsequent Generations Acknowledging Trauma Integration of Traditional and Conventional Therapy • “Strongly Agree” Responses • “…strong attachment to my culture and traditions.” • Taos Pueblo with 6 of 8 individuals or 75% • LANL’s Various Ethnicities with 12 of 33 individuals or 36% • Further Research to Confirm Hypothesis • Elderly Responses • More Diverse Population Hypothesis • Older Generation (Most Affected) Loss of Children, Traditions, Culture, Land, and Families Higher Negative Emotion • Younger Generation (Less Affected) Acclimated into Western Society Adjusted Between Two Worlds Exhibit Lower Negative Emotion Succumb to Trauma Through Generational Narratives • Null Hypothesis Intergenerational Trauma Does Not Influence Current Attitudes and Behaviors in our Communities Current Therapies Encompass Convention and Tradition ****************************** 1898 Conquest of Puerto Rico Educate – All People of Color U.S. Policy and Economic Interests Protection from Inferior Beings Necessitated Civilization - Gain Potential Benefit Scattering of Individuals “to break up their Spanish language”. Ensuring Control Over Indigenous Opposition Cultural Identity Lost Strangers in Own as Well as Eastern Culture Preferred Characteristics (%) References Babbi, Earl. The Practice of Social Research. California: Wadsworth, 2013. Print. Brown-Rice, K. (1983). Examining the theory of historical trauma among native americans. The Professional Counselor, 3(3), 117-130. (Confidential, personal communication, October 21, 2013). Gonzales, J. and Bennett, R. (2011) Conceptualizing Native Identity with a Multidimensional Model. American Indian and Alaska Native Mental Health Research: The Journal of the National Center, 17(2). 22-42. Navarro-Rivera, P. (2006). Acculturation under duress: The Puerto Rican experience at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School 1898-1918. Centro Journal, 18(1), 222-259. Robbins, R. R. (2012). A Native American voice in multicultural psychology finding healing in an interpersonal tapestry. (special issue on Native American/American Indian Culture) (Essay). Journal Of Multicultural Counseling And Development, (2), 93. Rybak, C., & Decker-Fitts, A. (2009) Understanding Native American healing practices. Counseling Psychology Quarterly. 22(3), 333-342. doi:10.1080/09515070903270900.dex.php. Sandos, J.S.. Pueblo Nations: Eight Centuries of Pueblo Indian History. New Mexico: Clearlight Publishers, 1992, 1998. Print. Satterlee, A. (2002). The Carlisle Indian Industrial School. ****************************** Oral History Bicultural – Hispanic/Indian Discrimination by Native Against Non-Native Loss of Traditions/Ceremonial Activities Family Unit – Segregated from Native Culture/Traditions Data Collection • Limitations of Data • Psychology 321 Survey Pretest • Small Sample Size • Insufficient Timeframe • Observation/Replication (Not Possible) • Historical – Previous Generations Unavailable • Biased – Large Specific Population; • Not Population of Interest • Collective Information Does Not Represent Individual ****************************** Theories - Trauma Current Issues All Aspects of Life Through the Generations Individual Experience Rationale for Abuse/Violence in Current Family Unit Transmission Parent’s Suffering Elders’ Description of Trauma Parenting Styles Trauma and Unresolved Grief Vague and Null - Lack of Actual Observation Current Emotional Stimuli - Conduit of Historical Trauma • Popular Choices of Study *Respect *Forgiveness *Family Connectedness *Self Identity *Harmony/Balance *Religion/Spirituality • Ascending Order Characteristics Preferred Therpeutical Integration • Traditional Versus Conventional Scientific/Medical Healing Less Popular at 4.55% Confirmation of Hypothesis – Traditional Preferable Acknowledgements Special thanks to all who made this poster possible – Individual providing oral history; Los Alamos National Laboratory employees and their efforts in “snowball” sampling, the Student Success Center, NNMC instructors who have contributed to my education, and the exceptional perseverance and instruction provided by Stephanie Amedeo-Marquez. Ethics • Strongly Implemented National Institute of Health (NIH) Mandates Ensured Confidentiality Measures Use for Course Psychology 421 and Seminar For more Information contact: loretta_a_gurule@nnmc.edu