For over 200 years Aborigines have endured a long history of suffering due to the adverse effects of western colonisation; in its attempt for cultural assimilation and to which has caused catastrophic consequences within individuals and the community as a whole. The extent and persistence of suppression inflicted upon the indigenous communities have severely disrupted the culture, which has not only made it susceptible to trauma, but can also trigger other catastrophic symptoms, which then lead to the transmission and intergenerational transmission of such behaviours or maladaptive coping strategies amongst its members. To this day, it is still evident that Aborigines continue to experience profound social problems caused by marginalisation with dominant society. In order to understand this, it is necessary to investigate the importance of culture and exactly what in their history has led them to where they are today, as well as, exploring the different theoretical approaches in regards to transmission, through the biological approaches in human development and approached in behavioural and learning theories, reflecting on the likelihood of how genetics or environmental factors can play in the role of transmission.
Introduction
In order to understand how the traumatic experiences of the past impact on current generations of indigenous peoples, it is crucial to understand the importance of culture and the nature of human relations and development, and precisely what in their history, has led them to their current breakdown. As Halloran (2004) suggested, culture is a shared repository of interrelated knowledge and practices that is maintained and transmitted by the ongoing activities and practices of participants, and it is ...
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...llow it to perpetuate within the current and successive generations of Indigenous Australians.
Works Cited
Halloran, M. J. (2004). Cultural Maintenance and Trauma in Indigenous Australia. 23rd Annual Australia and New Zealand Law and History Society Conference. Perth.
O'Loughlin, M. (2009). A psychoanalytic exploration of collective trauma among Indigenous Australians and a suggestion for intervention. Australasian Psychiatry: Bulletin Of Royal Australian And New Zealand College Of Psychiatrists, 17 Suppl 1S33-S36. Retrieved from MEDLINE database.
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Wesley-Esquimaux, C. C., & Smolewski, M. (2004). Historic Trauma and Aboriginal Healing. Ottawa: Aboriginal Healing Foundation.
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Bopp, J., & Bopp, M. 2007. Responding to sexual abuse: Developing a community-based sexual abuse response team in Aboriginal communities. Ottawa: Solicitor General of Canada, pp. 45-49
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