Trauma & Civilization 1 
                                
         Running Head:  Trauma & Civilization 
          
                         Trauma & Civilization:  
              The Relationship Between Personal Trauma, Social Oppression, 
                  and the Transformative Nature of Trauma Healing  
                       (A Biopsychosocial Approach) 
          
                                
          
                           Brad J Kammer 
                Vermont College (of The Union Institute & University) 
                            April 1, 2004 
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                
                  Core Faculty Advisor: Margaret Blanchard, PhD 
                    Field Faculty Advisor: Eleanor Ott, PhD 
                   Field Faculty Advisor: Walter Zeichner, MA 
                   
                   
                   
          Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master 
               of Arts, Vermont College of Union Institute & University. 
                                                                            Trauma & Civilization 2 
                                    ABSTRACT 
          This study demonstrates how unresolved trauma affects individuals’ capacity to create 
          healthy, functional lives.  It describes the foundational relationship between personal 
          trauma and social oppression that creates a cycle of dependence on lower functioning 
          physiological, psychological, and social mechanisms.  This ‘Cycle of Devolution’ has its 
          origin in humanity’s disconnection from its greatest resources – including, basic life 
          rhythms, mutually-enhancing relationships, sustainable communities, and ancestral 
          wisdom.  At the very roots of modern civilization, unresolved personal trauma has 
          impacted the social systems that shape modern life – including, child-rearing, family, 
          education, religion, and culture.  However, this trauma-induced cycle shifts as 
          individuals successfully renegotiate traumatic experiences, altering the way they relate 
          to themselves, their families, and the world.  This paper relies on the new science of 
          Somatic (body-oriented) Psychology to unravel the mystery of trauma and oppression.  
          Specifically, Peter Levine’s model of Somatic Experiencing is explored in its use of 
          healing trauma as a vehicle for personal and social transformation.  Working with the 
          thwarted physiological responses to trauma, this approach awakens individuals’ 
          creative impulses and self-regulatory functioning.  In this way, healing from trauma 
          provides an opportunity to reorganize personal and social life.   
             
             
             
             
             
                                         
                                                                                             Trauma & Civilization 3 
                                                  CONTENTS 
                                                          
              ACKNOWLEDGMENTS        4 
               
              PROLOGUE           8 
               
              INTRODUCTION         10 
               
              I.  THE CYCLE OF DEVOLUTION 
                    The Birth of Civilization       18 
                    Ghosts from our Past        32 
                    The Myth of Socialization       38 
                    The Social Pathology of Normalcy      47 
                    Devolution         60 
                    “Civilization Has Not Yet Begun”      68 
                    And Back to the Cradle        73 
              II.  THE HEALING CRISIS 
                    Body & Soul         79 
                    Cycle of Experience        85 
                    Traumatic Processing        103 
                    Character Modes of Survival       119 
                    Trauma Healing         140 
                    Trauma as Awakening        148 
              III.  THE CYCLE OF EVOLUTION 
                    The Paradox of Personal (and Social) Change                          167 
                    New Science of the Organism       177 
                    Helping Relationships        188 
                    Primal Connections        202 
                    A Civilization of Wild         218 
               
              CONCLUSION          227 
               
              EPILOGUE          232 
               
              APPENDICES          235 
               
              BIBLIOGRAPHY         248 
                                                                       Trauma & Civilization 4 
                           ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 
            
         There are so many people that have touched me along my way.  I want to begin by 
         acknowledging my faculty advisors at Vermont College: Margaret Blanchard, Eleanor 
         Ott, and Walter Zeichner.  All three have provided me with the space I needed to grow, 
         while still holding me within my process.  They have put up with my stubborn 
         dismissals and righteous denials, and have shared in my opening up as a learner and 
         human being.  The Vermont College/Union model of education rests on the vision and 
         strength of such creative individuals, and I am enormously grateful to have been in 
         relationship with them during my learning process.  I want to include a heart-felt 
         thanks to Walter for spending so many hours with me discussing clients, the state of 
         our world, and our lives; but mostly, simply becoming good friends. 
          
         Likewise, thanks to Peter Collins for offering me his ‘floor’ and for modeling a life-
         affirming approach to being.  Our relationship has meant so much to me and allowed 
         me to experience a deeper sense of intimacy.  I want to also acknowledge my Men’s 
         Group - the sensitive and honest men that have allowed me to share my emotional 
         process and have appreciated me even more for this sharing. 
          
         I wish to express my gratitude to Larry Heller and Peter Levine for their invaluable 
         contributions to the field of trauma, and for their effect on my development as a 
         therapist.  Thanks to Lynn Westenberger for making Somatic Experiencing a reality in 
         Vermont, and to our SE Vermont group.  Thanks also to Dave Berger for his insightful 
         supervision.   
          
         I offer appreciation to all my clients, at Johnson State College and in private practice, 
         who have touched me so deeply.  Thanks to the team at the Counseling Center at 
         Johnson State College that I was privileged to be a part of for two years.  Specifically, I