Page 19 - 2023-ml-myers-pel6e-chapter7-sample

Thinking Critically About:
Can Memories of Childhood Sexual Abuse Be Repressed and
Thinking Critically About:
Then Recovered?
Can Memories of Childhood Sexual Abuse Be Repressed and
Then Recovered?
LOQ 7-18
What cultural and situational factors influence hunger?
Why have reports of repressed and recovered memories been so hotly debated?
LOQ 7-18 Why have reports of repressed and recovered memories been so hotly debated?
What cultural and situational factors influence hunger?
Two Possible Tragedies:
1. People doubt childhood sexual abuse survivors who tell their secret.
Two Possible Tragedies:
2. Innocent people are falsely accused, as therapists prompt “recovered” memories of
1. People doubt childhood sexual abuse survivors who tell their secret.
childhood sexual abuse: Well-intentioned
2. Innocent people are falsely accused, as therapists prompt “recovered” memories of
therapist
childhood sexual abuse: “Victims of sexual abuse often have Well-intentioned
therapist
your symptoms. So maybe you were
abused and repressed the memory.
“Victims of sexual abuse often have
Let’s see if I can help you recover the
your symptoms. So maybe you were
memory, by digging back and
abused and repressed the memory.
visualizing your trauma.”
Let’s see if I can help you recover the
memory, by digging back and
visualizing your trauma.”
Misinformation
effect and source
amnesia: Adult
Misinformation Accused person is equally
client may form
effect and source With rehearsal (repeated Client is stunned, angry, and stunned and vigorously
image of threaten-
amnesia: Adult therapy sessions), the image ready to confront or sue the denies the accusation of
ing person.
client may form grows more vivid. remembered abuser. Accused person is equally
long-ago abuse.
image of threaten- With rehearsal (repeated Client is stunned, angry, and stunned and vigorously
ing person. therapy sessions), the image ready to confront or sue the denies the accusation of
grows more vivid. remembered abuser. long-ago abuse.
Professional organizations (including the American Medical, American Psychological, and American Psychiatric
Associations) are working to find sensible common ground to resolve psychology’s “memory war”:
1
Professional organizations (including the American Medical, American Psychological, and American Psychiatric
and can these experiences be recovered by
Associations) are working to find sensible common ground to resolve psychology’s “memory war”: 1
• Childhood sexual abuse happens and can leave its
victims at risk for problems ranging from sexual therapist-aided techniques? Memories that
4
2
dysfunction to depression. But there is no “survivor surface naturally are more likely to be true. 5
and can these experiences be recovered by
• Childhood sexual abuse happens and can leave its
syndrome”—no group of symptoms that lets us spot • Memories of events before age 4 are unreliable.
therapist-aided techniques? Memories that
victims at risk for problems ranging from sexual
4
victims of sexual abuse. 3 2 Infantile amnesia results from not yet developed
dysfunction to depression. But there is no “survivor surface naturally are more likely to be true.
5
• Injustice happens. Innocent people have been falsely brain pathways. Most psychologists therefore
syndrome”—no group of symptoms that lets us spot • Memories of events before age 4 are unreliable.
convicted. And guilty people have avoided punishment doubt “recovered” memories of abuse during
victims of sexual abuse. Infantile amnesia results from not yet developed
3
by casting doubt on their truth-telling accusers. infancy. The older a child was when suffering
6
• Injustice happens. Innocent people have been falsely brain pathways. Most psychologists therefore
• Forgetting happens. Children abused when very sexual abuse, and the more severe the abuse, the
convicted. And guilty people have avoided punishment
doubt “recovered” memories of abuse during
young may not have understood the meaning of their more likely it is to be remembered. 7
by casting doubt on their truth-telling accusers.
infancy. The older a child was when suffering
6
experience or remember it. Forgetting long-ago good • Memories “recovered” under hypnosis are
sexual abuse, and the more severe the abuse, the
• Forgetting happens. Children abused when very
and bad events is an ordinary part of everyday life. especially unreliable. 7
more likely it is to be remembered.
young may not have understood the meaning of their
• Recovered memories are common. Cued by a remark • Memories, whether real or false, can be
• Memories “recovered” under hypnosis are
experience or remember it. Forgetting long-ago good
or an experience, we may recover pleasant or unpleas- emotionally upsetting. What was born of mere
especially unreliable.
and bad events is an ordinary part of everyday life.
ant memories of long-forgotten events. But does the suggestion can become, like an actual event,
• Memories, whether real or false, can be
• Recovered memories are common. Cued by a remark
unconscious mind forcibly repress painful experiences, a stinging memory that drives bodily stress. 8
or an experience, we may recover pleasant or unpleas-
emotionally upsetting. What was born of mere
ant memories of long-forgotten events. But does the suggestion can become, like an actual event,
unconscious mind forcibly repress painful experiences, a stinging memory that drives bodily stress. 8
Psychologists question whether repression ever occurs.
(See Chapter 12 for more on this concept, which is central to Freud’s theory.)
Psychologists question whether repression ever occurs.
Traumatic experiences (witnessing a loved one's murder, vivid, persistent,
(See Chapter 12 for more on this concept, which is central to Freud’s theory.)
being terrorized by a hijacker or rapist, losing everything in a TYPICALLY LEAD TO haunting memories 9
natural disaster) vivid, persistent,
Traumatic experiences (witnessing a loved one's murder,
being terrorized by a hijacker or rapist, losing everything in a TYPICALLY LEAD TO 9
haunting memories
The Royal College of Psychiatrists Working Group on Reported Recovered Memories of Child Sexual Abuse
natural disaster)
advised that “when memories are ‘recovered’ after long periods of amnesia, particularly when extraordinary means were used to
secure the recovery of memory, there is a high probability that the memories are false.” 10
The Royal College of Psychiatrists Working Group on Reported Recovered Memories of Child Sexual Abuse
advised that “when memories are ‘recovered’ after long periods of amnesia, particularly when extraordinary means were used to
1. Patihis et al., 2014. 2. Freyd et al., 2007. 3. Kendall-Tackett et al., 1993. 4. McNally & Geraerts, 2009. 5. Geraerts et al., 2007.
10
secure the recovery of memory, there is a high probability that the memories are false.”
6. Gore-Felton et al., 2000; Knapp & VandeCreek, 2000. 7. Goodman et al., 2003. 8. McNally, 2003, 2007. 9. Porter & Peace, 2007;
Goldfarb et al., 2019. 10. Brandon et al., 1998.
1. Patihis et al., 2014. 2. Freyd et al., 2007. 3. Kendall-Tackett et al., 1993. 4. McNally & Geraerts, 2009. 5. Geraerts et al., 2007.
6. Gore-Felton et al., 2000; Knapp & VandeCreek, 2000. 7. Goodman et al., 2003. 8. McNally, 2003, 2007. 9. Porter & Peace, 2007;
Goldfarb et al., 2019. 10. Brandon et al., 1998.
Copyright © Bedford/Freeman/Worth/Macmillan Learning. Uncorrected proofs. Not for redistribution.
08_pel6e_41872_ch07_179_201.indd 197 11/03/22 4:34 PM