Genocide, violence, and discrimination against minority groups have been ongoing for centuries, even more visibly in recent centuries. Whether this behavior is inherent in human nature, as suggested by theories like Social Darwinism, is a question asked repeatedly. After the Holocaust, nations swore that history would never repeat itself, yet it has, again and again. Since then, there has been the Rwandan genocide, the atrocities in Congo, the targeting of Indigenous tribes in Australia, and the very recent crisis in Gaza and Ukraine—the list goes on. Is it the narrow, insular nature of humans that drives this brutality? Does bloodshed run in human veins? Either way, ceaseless xenophobia, born from distinguishing and dividing "them" and "us", has killed too many lives and scarred millions. These minority communities are then faced with physical and mental effects that last for generations. Anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other forms of psychological suffering often become ingrained within families due to traumatic violence. Mental issues are passed down, similar to genetic traits, creating a legacy of intergenerational trauma from genocidal events. These psychological impacts are not limited to individuals; they shape family structures, influence cultural values, and alter the social fabric of marginalized communities significantly.

Tangible evidence caused by trauma can be identified through biological marks left on survivors’ DNA, changes that potentially pass down to future generations. A study of Holocaust survivors and their descendants shows that the extreme trauma endured during the Holocaust led to epigenetic changes. Epigenetic changes are chemical modifications to DNA that do not alter the genetic code itself but can influence how genes are activated or silenced, ultimately affecting how certain traits or stress responses are expressed in individuals. Within victims, trauma can alter gene expression in germ cells (sperm or eggs) before conception, embedding stress responses that shape offspring’s psychological health to be more adaptive or increase vulnerability in certain environments. Children of survivors demonstrate less effective coping strategies including difficulty managing stress, reduced emotional regulation, and a weakened sense of purpose or control over their lives. These changes change how stress and anxiety are processed in the body and are detectable in the children and even grandchildren of survivors.

Transmission of trauma occurs not solely through genetic inheritance but also through family environmental influences. Based on a study on the children of Holocaust survivors, it was found that families with a first-generation history of severe trauma were more likely to develop "extreme family structures.” Families with a history of trauma are characterized by dysfunctional dynamics and reduced cohesion, in contrast to more balanced family structures observed in non-traumatized groups. They experience more heightened conflict, emotional distance, and communication difficulties. This extreme family functioning burdens the mental health of subsequent generations and causes higher levels of distress, anxiety, and depression. Family cohesion, a critical factor for psychological resilience, was particularly affected, especially among children who experienced World War II, who, in many cases, had to change their identities and sever family ties to survive. The trauma from such an extreme disruption in family identity impacts their descendants through weakened perceptions of family unity and increased vulnerability to mental health challenges.

During the Anfal campaign in the 1980s, Saddam Hussein’s regime targeted Iraqi Kurds in a brutal operation involving mass detentions, forced displacements, village destruction, and chemical weapons. It was an armed operation that worked to exterminate a certain population: Iraqi Kurds. One specific event was the chemical attack on Halabja in 1988, which used mustard gas and nerve agents, killing over 5,000 civilians and leaving many others with severe injuries and lasting psychological wounds. Victims experienced genetic mutations, cancer, neurological damage, and psychiatric disorders. Survivors of this atrocity, and similar ones, continue to experience high rates of PTSD, depression, and anxiety, which has manifested in subsequent generations as a complex trauma, with unresolved grief and a collective sense of historical suffering. Closure remains unattainable for most victims of genocide as children and grandchildren are born with this burden. Thousands of Iraqi Kurds are still missing and their remains unidentified, while their government took decades to recognize the torment of the Anfal Campaign as genocide. Survivors were torn from their identities, their traditions shattered, and their voices silenced, leaving generations to carry the weight of stolen legacies and unhealed wounds.

Another community that struggles are the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders in Australia who endured extensive historical trauma stemming from colonization. They have faced forced removal of Indigenous children from their families (known as the "Stolen Generations"), land dispossession, cultural suppression, and systemic discrimination. Indigenous communities in countries like Australia and the USA continue to succumb to profound disparities, rooted in the violent seizure of their lands, forced relocations, and confinement to reservations. In addition to socioeconomic disadvantages, research shows that the persistence of systemic racism in employment, education, and healthcare continues to undermine the mental health of Indigenous Australians. Their suicide rate is double the nation’s average and indigenous children are 24 times more likely to be incarcerated. The cumulative impacts of these traumas are the reason for disparities in mental health outcomes. where certain subgroups, such as Indigenous women and those in rural areas have higher rates of assault, sexual abuse, and substance abuse. This fuels a vicious cycle where the very circumstances that cause trauma amplify the risk of anxiety and depression, which in turn perpetuate oppressive conditions such as alcoholism, abuse, and intergenerational instability.

Over 45,000 Palestinians have been murdered since October 7, 2023, of which 44% were children. This very recent genocide emphasizes the trauma such communities face. Since the establishment of Israel in 1948, Palestinians have endured a series of traumatic events, including the First and Second Intifadas and the Gaza War of 2008–2009. They have had land loss, forced displacement, military occupation, and political violence. Studies on Palestinian families reveal that trauma from these conflicts profoundly affects family dynamics and mental health, with parental trauma often shaping parenting styles and behaviors. Fathers with high trauma exposure are more likely to display harsh or insensitive parenting, which can lead to increased rates of anxiety, PTSD, and depression in their children. Not only have family foundations been fractured, for the past 50 years, Israel has controlled the water supply in Gaza and restricted it causing water to sometimes cost half a household income per month. It has become even worse since October 7th as more than half of the hospitals without proper resources, the majority of crops have been destroyed, every college bombed, and half the homes demolished. The denial of basic human necessities takes a devastating toll on the mental and physical health of Palestinians. The ways trauma is often passed down in Palestinian families—whether through psychological abuse or the emotional burden of living with traumatized parents—show how systemic violence creates a domino effect of mental health struggles.

Countless examples illustrate how systematic violence and discrimination inflict long-lasting trauma on marginalized communities. These atrocities not only impact immediate victims but also leave deep psychological and cultural scars that are passed down through generations, altering family dynamics, mental health, and collective identity. Although there has been evidence of adaptivity and profound adversity found within such minorities, it doesn’t negate the trauma becoming ingrained. Today, we witness trauma patterns emerging from ongoing conflicts, such as the warfare in Sudan, the devastation in Ukraine, and the instability under Taliban rule in Afghanistan. These crises perpetuate inherited suffering, underscoring the urgent need for intervention and healing to prevent history from repeating itself in new generations.