Running head: REPRESSED MEMORIES
Repressed Memories and The Debate Over Recovered Memory Therapy
Amanda L Magoon
Drury University PSYC 334
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Abstract
Repressed memories have been on debate for many years among therapists. Repressed memories
involve the use of a defense mechanism called dissociation; through the use of therapy these
repressed memories can be brought back to conscious memory. Repressed memories have
affected law practice and healthcare coverage of therapy. There are many cases of therapist and
client accounts that will provide support for both sides of the long standing debate.
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Repressed Memories and The Debate Over Recovered Memory Therapy
Repression is one of the most haunting concepts in psychology.
Something shocking happens and the mind pushes it into some
inaccessible corner of the unconscious. Later, the memory may emerge
into consciousness. Repression is one of the foundation stones on which
the structure of psychoanalysis rests. Recently there has been a rise in
reported memories of childhood sexual abuse that were allegedly
repressed for many years. With recent changes in legislation, people are
suing alleged perpetrators for events that happened 20, 30 even 40 or more
years earlier.
Elizabeth F. Loftus 1993
Dissociation
Dissociation is a defense mechanism that is used to push aside overwhelming feelings
that are too difficult to cope with. Repression is memories and painful thoughts that are
forgotten. Dissociation and repression sound similar, but have key differences. Dissociation
usually involves “forgetting large amounts of personal information and, accordingly disrupts
personal identity” (Hansell & Damour 2008, p 264).
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Dissociative amnesia takes place usually after a traumatic or stressful event and is characterized
by not being able to remember personal information that cannot be explained by “normal
forgetfulness” (DSM-IV-TR 520).
Accuracy of Memories
The controversy over recovered memories has been going on over a century now. The
accuracy of memories is essentially what is being debated. Sigmund Freud, the pioneer of
psychotherapy, struggled with recovered memories as psychotherapists do today (Hansell &
Damour 2008, p 262). In the beginning Freud believed what his clients were revealing to him
about sexual abuse was true. Freud even wrote a report titled Aetiology of Hysteria (1896) that
insisted “sexual experiences were ‘at the bottom of every case of hysteria’” (Hansell & Damour
2008, p 262). Eventually, Freud’s opinion of recovered memories would change. The shift was
due to “memories of childhood sexual abuse emerged in nearly every one of his clinical cases”
(Hansell & Damour 2008, p 262). When Freud explained his reason for the shift in opinion he
said, “I was at last obliged to recognize that these scenes of seduction had never taken place, and
that they were only fantasies which my patients had made up” (Hansell & Damour 2008, p 262).
The controversy over how reliable these “recovered memories” are lives on today as well. On
one side of the debate the clinicians believe that highly traumatic events can be repressed for
long periods of time and subsequently recovered. On the other hand there is Elizabeth F Loftus,
Department of Psychology, University of Washington.
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Loftus argues that memories are fallible, easily distorted, and can even be implanted. A child’s
imagination can even play a role in how events are remembered. Loftus and colleagues have
proven that when a child is told or asked repeated questions about sexual abuse, the child can
“remember” an incident that truly never occurred.
Case Example
In 1990 George Franklin Sr. (51 Years old) was convicted of murder of and 8 year old
girl, Susan Kay Nelson, in 1969 (Brahams 2000). Franklin’s daughter Eileen was only 8 years
old herself when the murder happened and claims the memory of her witnessing the crime was
repressed. Eileen does not only accuse Franklin, her father, of murder but also of sexually
assaulting Nelson. The memories are claimed to not have come back all at once, Eileen begins to
remember fragments of the event more than 20 years later while playing with her own children
(Loftus 1993). Eileen’s memory affected her father tremendously. Eileen’s therapist, family and
San Mateo County District Attorney’s office believed her report and the San Mateo County
District Attorney’s office chose to prosecute. The jury went into deliberations on November 29,
1990 and came back the next day with a verdict of guilty (Loftus 1993). “The jury’s finding
apparently relied heavily on his [Franklin’s] daughter’s unreliable “repressed memory” (Brahams
2000). After spending 6 years in prison, Franklin’s conviction was overturned due to several
factors. First, the jurors were told that Franklin remaining silent while being accused he was
admitting to guilt.
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Second, the details of what happened to Nelson were published prior to her recovered memory.
Finally Eileen had falsely accused her father of a second murder (Brahams 2000).
Therapy
Recovered memories can be damaging to families and oneself, not to mention the views
on repressed and recovering memories is still a divided issue amongst therapists. According to
Brahams in 1992 there were 18,000 families in the False Memory Syndrome Foundation of
Philadelphia Pennsylvania. Regardless of the warnings issued by the American Psychiatric
Association, therapists are still moving forward with the treatment. A major question in the
debate over repressed memories is how reliable are these said memories? In the course of
therapy some therapists use hypnosis, drug therapy, and repetitive interviews to recover lost
memories (Brahams 2000). Memories are not reliable on their own let alone combined with
hypnosis and drugs. Credible instances of repressed memory do occur, sometimes. A major
problem with repressed memories if the therapists themselves. Therapists are intentionally and
unintentionally suggesting to clients that they are victims of abuse. Loftus writes that “clients
have been reporting that a therapist has suggested that childhood abuse was the cause of their
current distress”. Loftus also writes about a woman from Oregon who started therapy for
depression and anxiety. Only a few months into therapy her therapist suggests her depression and
anxiety are due to childhood sexual abuse (Loftus 1993). The client has no memories of any
sexual abuse and has undergone hypnosis and trance work trying to remember and cannot.
Hypnosis is not a reliable means of gathering memories. Through hypnosis and age regression a
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client was able to remember “horrifying memories of abuse by her father” (Loftus 1993), from as
young as 4 years old till she was 18. Hypnosis is not reversible; if these memories are not true
the client has to live with her new reality. Through hypnotic regression people “have been known
to recall being abducted by aliens a board exotic space craft and other forgotten events” (Loftus
1993).
Conclusion
The evidence shows there are two very real sides to this debate. On one side there are
professionals against the use of therapy to recover memories of childhood sexual abuse that may
not have occurred at all. Loftus has a valid point saying memories are fallible. Memories can be
remembered distorted and be manipulated. On the other hand, the therapists using this technique
in therapy have a long and difficult battle ahead of them validating its use. There are numerous
reports and accounts of therapists and clients on repressed memories, and based on the research,
recovered memory therapy is not reliable and there will undoubtedly be a continuous controversy
over the issue.
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References
Brahams, D. (2000). 'Repressed memories' and the law. Lancet, 356(9227), 358. Retrieved from
EBSCOhost.
Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-IV-TR. (4th ed., p. 520). (2000).
Dissociative Disorders. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.
Hansell, J., & Damour, L. (2008). Abnormal psychology (2nd ed.). Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley.
Loftus, E. F. (1993). The reality of repressed memories. American Psychologist, 48(5), 518.
Retrieved from EBSCOhost.
Additional Sources
Goldstein, E. (1997). FALSE MEMORY SYNDROME: WHY WOULD THEY BELIEVE
SUCH TERRIBLE THING IS THEY WEREN'T TRUE?. American Journal of Family Therapy,
25(4), 307-317. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.
Ofshe, R., & Watters, E. (1996). Making monsters: false memories, psychotherapy, and sexual
hysteria. Berkeley: University of California Press.