Understanding intergenerational trauma in Israel/Palestine

Making Peace Visible

Intergenerational trauma, also called historical trauma, is defined as cumulative emotional and psychological wounding over the lifespan and across generations, emanating from massive group trauma experiences.

The brutal October 7th attacks by Hamas inside of Israel, and the IDF’s seemingly relentless assault on Gaza have captured the world’s attention for the past six months. In this episode, we attempt to understand the psychological state that’s developed over generations on both sides, which enables people to commit such violent acts.

Our guest is Lydia Wilson, a research fellow at Oxford’s Centre for the Resolution of Intractable Conflict, a visiting fellow at the University of Cambridge’s Department of Middle Eastern Studies, and the Culture Editor at New Lines Magazine. Lydia has spent a good part of her career studying radicalization and the long-term psychological impact of violence on a population level.

LEARN MORE

Articles by Lydia Wilson

The Psychology of the Intractable Israel-Palestine Conflict, New Lines Magazine, October 2023

Jordan’s Fragile Balancing Act, New Lines Magazine, December 2023

What I Discovered From Interviewing Imprisoned ISIS Fighters, The Nation, October 2015

Follow Lydia Wilson on X: @lsmwilson

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The Making Peace Visible podcast is hosted by Jamil Simon and produced by Andrea Muraskin, with help from Faith McClure. Steven Youngblood is Director of Education for Making Peace Visible. Learn more at makingpeacevisible.org

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