The launch of Transgenerational Trauma – A Contemporary Introduction

In the Routledge Introductions to Contemporary Psychoanalysis series by Jill Selberg and Sue Grand

"Every survivor has an indispensable need to tell and thereby know his story, unhindered by the ghosts of the past from which he must defend himself. A person needs to know the truth buried within him in order to be able to live his life." (Dori Laub)

We are excited to announce the launch of the groundbreaking book "Intergenerational Trauma" by Jill Selberg and Sue Grand.

Transgenerational Trauma – A Contemporary Introduction delves into the complex and broad field of trauma and its transmission between generations and asks, " How do our parents emerge from within us?"

The book begins by tracing the history of the field, emphasizing its roots in diverse theoretical traditions. It places intergenerational transmission in the context of attachment theory and the referential approach, and examines the role of victims, wronged persons, and witnesses in the healing process, based on an ethic of social justice. Selberg and Grand challenge existing psychoanalytic theories, questioning the universal assumptions that often ignore clients from non-Western cultures.

The notebooks show how intergenerational history and the cultural context in which they were raised influenced their perception.

Several critical questions will be discussed during the event:

1. How does the history of attachment theory influence our understanding of intergenerational trauma?

2. In what ways do victims, perpetrators, and witnesses contribute to the healing process?

3. How has psychoanalysis incorporated testimony as a conceptual framework for the healing process?

4. What can relational trauma theory teach us about intergenerational trauma?

5. What are the theoretical biases in psychoanalysis, and how do they affect the study of intergenerational trauma?

6. How can the limitations inherent in the professional literature be addressed when examining non-Western and non-white patients and cultures?

7. How can dialogue with others who are different from us help move us toward social justice?

The event will also address the ongoing war that began on October 7, in which many survivors are deeply traumatized. The current conflict highlights the relevance of intergenerational trauma, as the wounds of the present will continue to impact future experiences and relationships. Discussing how trauma is passed on and the importance of understanding our own and others’ history is essential to fostering resilience and hope in these challenging times.

About the notebooks:

Jill Selberg is a faculty member in the New York University Postdoctoral Program.

in psychoanalysis. She is the editor of Psychoanalytic Credos:

Professional Journeys of Psychoanalysts (2022) and Good Enough

Endings (2010).

Sue Grand is a faculty member in the New York University Postdoctoral Program in Psychoanalysis. She is the author of The Hero in the Mirror:

From Fear to Fortitude (2009) and The Reproduction of Evil (2002).

Decentering Relational Theory: A Comparative Critique and

De-Idealizing Relational Theory: A Critique From Within (both 2018).

Wounds of History: Repair and Resilience

in the Trans-Generational Transmission of Trauma (2017) and

Transgenerational Trauma and the Other: Dialogues across History

and Difference (2017), both won the Gradiva award in 2018.