Loading...
The Legacy of Inaction: How Prolonged Social Trauma Has Generational Epigenetic Impacts
Sridhar, Shreya Dasondi, Manav Shaik, Abid Nortey, Deja
Sridhar, Shreya
Dasondi, Manav
Shaik, Abid
Nortey, Deja
Citations
Altmetric:
Genre
Journal article
Date
2023-12-18
Advisor
Committee member
Group
Department
Psychology and Neuroscience
Permanent link to this record
Collections
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
DOI
Abstract
Arguments over whether people are defined by their genes or their environments have been waged for years. This "nature versus nurture" discussion has long been debated, questioning how much experiences and genetics dictate how an individual looks, acts, and experiences life. An important piece of this discussion that has sparked new research is how some particular experiences can change the genetics of their descendants, or simply put, how nurture can change nature. This rising field is the study of social epigenetics, or the study of how social events can cause biological differences by changing the chemical markers on DNA, resulting in different gene expressions without changing the DNA structure itself [1;2]. This means that certain experiences, notably those that are socially traumatic like poverty, childhood abuse, and harassment, can not only affect the individual personally experiencing them but can work their way into the individual’s DNA. This is then passed down to their children, resulting in intergenerational trauma [2; 3]. In other words, people having these experiences not only face negative effects themselves but can also pass them on for generations to come, highlighting the importance of addressing and eliminating these stressful experiences as much as possible.
Description
Citation
Sridhar, S., Dasondi, M., Shaik, A., Evans, H., Nortey, D., & Schmidt, H. (2023). The Legacy of Inaction: How Prolonged Social Trauma Has Generational Epigenetic Impacts. Grey Matters, 6, 18-21.
Citation to related work
Available at: https://greymattersjournaltu.org/issue-6/the-legacy-of-inaction-how-prolonged-social-trauma-has-generational-epigenetic-impacts
Has part
Grey Matters, Iss. 6, Fall 2023
ADA compliance
For Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodation, including help with reading this content, please contact scholarshare@temple.edu