Is Psychic Phylogenesis Only a Phantasy? New Biological Developments in Trauma Inheritance

Abstract

In Moses and Monotheism, Freud raises the issue of a phylogenetic transgenerational trauma inheritance. Biology, he says, is not yet able to prove the existence of such a phenomenon, which would appear as a resurgence of Lamarckism, but shows confidence in the future developments of evolutionary biology. Some recents works in epigenetics are currently bringing a positive answer to Freud’s question. It seems that there exists an epigenetic mode of inheritance of stress, psychic pain, and traumatic experiences.