Uncovering the Impacts of Intergenerational Trauma on Individuation in Second-Generation Iranians

Abstract

This study explores the impact of intergenerational trauma on the individuation process of second-generation Iranian Americans in the United States. Interpreted through a Jungian (depth psychological) lens, this research examines how unresolved familial trauma stemming from the 1979 Iranian Revolution continues to shape identify formation across generations. Using an alchemical hermeneutic approach, the study interprets a historical event, bio-psycho-social research, and personal stories to uncover unconscious and symbolic patterns that have influenced the lived experiences of the Iranian American diaspora. Findings suggest that intergenerational trauma manifests itself through anxiety, identity confusion, attachment issues, and difficulties integrating bicultural identities, impeding the individuation process (a lifelong pursuit of discovering one’s true and whole self). Biological and psychosocial transmissions were considered in understanding how trauma can be inherited and expressed. Clinically, the study highlights the importance of using culturally attuned and trauma-informed methods to effectively address ancestral narratives and collective wounds. This research contributes to the acknowledgment of identity development in immigrant populations and the transformative potential of integrating inherited trauma in the journey toward finding wholeness.