An exploration of the role of cultural values in the emergence and perpetuation of collective trauma experienced by Indian males

Abstract

Despite increasing global attention to intergenerational trauma, the experiences of South African Indian males shaped by both colonialism and apartheid remain under researched. These historical traumas have had far reaching effects on the community’s cultural identity, family structures, and psychological well-being, with repercussions that continue to affect successive generations This study aims to explore how unresolved historical injustices, rooted in colonial and apartheid-era oppression, have continued to influence the psychological and cultural experiences of South African Indian males. It further, examines the impact these traumas have had on family dynamics, identity formation, and mental health outcomes across generations. Grounded in Jung’s collective unconscious theory, Gabor Maté’s, intergenerational trauma model, and Jeffrey Alexander’s, cultural trauma theory this study offers an in-depth look into how these theoretical frameworks can illuminate the ongoing cultural and psychological effects of unresolved trauma within South African Indian males. Employing a qualitative approach, and phenomenological design the study conducted semi-structured with six South African Indian male participants across multiple generations of South African Indian males., aged between 25 and 75, recruited through purposive sampling. Through reflexive thematic analysis, the findings revealed four key themes: historical trauma and its impact, cultural identity and transmission, mental health and well-being, and cultural resilience and continuity. The findings suggest that cultural values may play a significant role in shaping participants' understanding and expression of trauma, contributing to its transmission across generations. The themes highlighted the ways in which historical injustices, cultural pressures, and unspoken familial dynamics perpetuate collective trauma, while also revealing tensions between cultural preservation and psychological well-being. This research provides insight into culturally situated trauma processes and offers recommendations for culturally responsive psychological interventions.