What is trauma? Conversations about trauma often focus on individual experiences. But trauma can also be shaped by social and political contexts, affecting entire communities as well as the people within them.

In this episode, Professor Rory O’Connor interviews Professor Orla Muldoon, Head of Department and Professor of Psychology at Queen’s University Belfast. Her research explores the links between identity, conflict, and trauma, with a particular focus on how social and political contexts shape psychological experiences.

They discuss how trauma can be understood not only as an individual experience but also as something shaped by social and collective contexts. The conversation explores what makes social trauma distinct, how it can affect communities as well as individuals, and what the latest research reveals about its long-term impacts.

Orla also shares insights from her work on how understanding the social dimensions of trauma can help inform more effective responses in research, policy, and mental health support.

Season Four of MQ Open Mind is supported by Tiberone Technologies www.tiberone.com