False Memory Syndrome
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As reported in the Sunday Age, 15 May, 1994, a Californian man has "won his case against two therapists who he claimed persuaded his daughter that he had continually sexually assaulted as a young girl." The man was awarded $500 000 and was quoted as saying: "This is a tremendous victory. This verdict means that Holly's supposed memories are a result of drugs and quackery, not anything I did."
For those of us working in the field the theory of False Memory Syndrome poses some real problems. It not only, once again, denies the reality of survivors experience but also puts therapists at risk of legal action.
The Domestic Violence Resource Center (DVRC) library has a small collection of articles, some of which support False Memory Syndrome and some of which are critical of it. Brief abstracts of the articles appear below.
Anyone wanting copies should contact DVRC.
Articles
1. Calof, David L. "A Conversation with Pamela Freyd, Ph.D. Co-Founder and Executive Director, False Memory Syndrome Foundation Inc., Part l." in Treating Abuse Today, vol 3, no 3.
This article provided information about the founders of the False Memory Syndrome Foundation, its main concerns and a lengthy interview with Pamela Freyd. David Calof, its author says: "The national discussion regarding the truth of memories of childhood abuse will have a beneficial effect. Therapists will be reminded that dire consequences can ensue from poor practice, careless technique ... it will also stimulate legitimate research into the nature of traumatic memory. Unfortunately, the polemic often has been hysterical, scape-goating, accusatory, rumor driven, biased and anti-empirical. Since many members of the FMSF Inc Scientific Advisory Board are frequent professional witnesses for the defense in cases of alleged sexual abuse we questioned whether the organisation was acting more as an advocate for a previously determined position or whether it was truly taking a scientific approaching to determining the truth of recollections of child abuse."
This question is vigorously pursued in the interview.
2. The Healing Woman, vol 2, no 2, August, 1993
This edition of a monthly US newsletter for women survivors of childhood sexual abuse is devoted to False Memory Syndrome and is entitled "Surviving the Backlash". It contains an interview with Ellen Bass (co-author of "The Courage to Heal"), who has been the subject of accusations of encouraging women to recall "false" memories. This newsletter also contains: a useful summary of the claims of the False Memory Syndrome Foundation and some facts which seek, to refute its claims; an article on "The Media and the Backlash" by an experienced journalist who says "it is important for survivors to understand something: the media exalts victims, not survivors" and an article by a survivor about her recovered memories.
3. B. E. A. M. (Being Energetic About Multiplicity), vol 2, no 5, Sept/Oct, 1993
Contains an article on the background of FMSF members, the history of the Foundation, its growth and its methods.
4. Loftus, Elizabeth F., "Repressed Memories of Childhood Trauma: Are They Genuine?" in Working Together, vol 14, no 2, Fall 1993.
This article, which appears in the newsletter produced by the US Centre for the Prevention of Sexual and Domestic Violence is sceptical of delayed memories of childhood sexual abuse. Judith L. Hermans expresses a contrary opinion in the same issue in an article entitled "The false memory debate: social science or social backlash?"
5. Wakes, Ethan "Unreliable Memories" in HQ Magazine, Winter 1993
A general article which begins "Sam and Edna Splan were folk of the highest repute, until their daughter, Kathy, went into therapy after a breakdown, and unlocked a childhood of brutal rape and Satanic ritual at their hands. Repressed memory? Or therapy gone mad? The strange ways of the mind are dividing medical experts and tearing families apart."
A good example of the observation that "the media exalts victims."
6."Lies of the mind" in Time, November 29, 1993
This article begins with the story of a woman who, during counselling, had uncovered memories of sexual abuse, however, she later came to believe that these memories had been suggested to her by her therapist.
"Now Gavigan has begged her father's forgiveness and filed a lawsuit against the psychiatric hospital for the pain she and her family suffered." Although it presents experts from both sides of the debate, this article is very critical of memory recovery treatment.
7.Material from the False Memory Syndrome Foundation. This includes: a list of its professional advisory board; a statement of its purpose and function; a list of frequently asked questions and answers to them and; 2 FMSF newsletters (November and December 1993).
DVIRC is interested in expanding its collection of False Memory Syndrome material. If readers have any information please contact us. We hope to have a feature article on False Memory Syndrome in the next Newsletter.
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Disclaimer
Copyright Updated: 9 Oct 2009
The South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault acknowledges the traditional Aboriginal owners of country throughout Victoria. We pay our respects to them, their culture and their Elders past, present and future.