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False Memory Syndrome

            In recent years there has been immense controversy about such repressed memories. Experts differ in their opinions as to whether the abuse actually happened, or whether such "memories" are actually created during the process of psychotherapy. There are few areas of mental health practice in which expert opinion has been so strongly divided and forcefully expressed. Whether or not repressed memory can and does occur is of great legal and ethical importance. .
             Those who believe in the ability of psychotherapy to identify true repressed memories defend their viewpoint on the high frequency of known child abuse and sexual molestation. For every case that is detected there must surely be some that are unreported and unprosecuted. There is no doubt that perpetrators of childhood abuse go to great lengths to deny their involvement, and abuse frequently is revealed (and admitted by the perpetrator) only many years after it has occurred. The supporters of repressed memories believe that many victims find their experiences too terrible to remember. They bury these memories deep in the unconscious - only to have them emerge later as elements of dissociative behavior. .
             The opponents of repressed memories feel that most memories of prior abuse are subtly suggested to highly suggestible individuals by generally well-meaning therapists. Sometimes these memories are recognized during therapy involving hypnosis, when suggestibility is perhaps at its highest. Additionally, persons who can be readily hypnotized may often be more suggestible than the average. Close corroborative investigation makes it seems likely that some persons - especially those with DID - have not really experienced the abuse, which they describe vividly to their psychological interviewers. .
             Multiple personality disorder (MPD) is a psychiatric disorder characterized by having at least one "alter" personality, which controls behavior.


Essays Related to False Memory Syndrome

1. False Memory Syndrome

Many argue that there is no such thing as False Memory Syndrome. It doesn't appear in the DSM IV. This is an untrue argument. Back in the day Multiple Personality Disorder did not appear in the DSM but it is there now. One day False Memory Syndrome will appear in the DSM. Meanwhile, people do develop "memories" of events they have never experienced and they do ... truly believe they have experienced these events. Call it false memories; call it delusions - it exists. People forget most of what occurs to them, including some ... or significant to them at the time. If an event is lost from mem...

  • Word Count: 989
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

2. What Can Research Tell Us About the Reliabilty of Memory

... This hence means that recreating a specific atmosphere of a scenario will increase the reliability of our memory and its recall. False memories. The apparent recovery of memories that have no basis in fact has become known as false memory syndrome. There is clear evidence from laboratory studies that it is quite possible to implant false memories. In one study Loftus and Pickrell (1995) were able to implant ... false memories in 24 participants aged 23-53. Using information gained from participants" relatives, they constructed for each participant a ... in 4 cases, recovered memories w...

  • Word Count: 2024
  • Approx Pages: 8
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

3. Repressed Memory

... Scheflin,2004,para.2)." The debate was not only based on personal reservations of the psychiatrists, but also the possible out comes of the people involved."Until recently, the false memory/recovered memory controversy has been defined by zealots from both ends of the spectrum (Scheflin,2004,para 3)." There are those who support the idea that environment, and therapy can ... "recovered memories." Many theories were pure conjecture, without any significant experimental basis. "For example, reports of recovered memories of child sex abuse may be described as the result of implanting, false...

  • Word Count: 1060
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

4. To what extent are our memories accurate reconstructions

... suggested by various cognitive psychologists that we store long-term memories in fragments of information rather than a long video reel, and when we retrieve a long-term memory we add other information to the fragments, information that fills in the gaps. This additional information often contains inaccuracies. A persons" emotional state is important in the formation ... have been made to believe that they are recovering a repressed memory, even though the event they recalled never actually happened. When interference occurs and a fake or inaccurate memory is born it is known as "False M...

  • Word Count: 1705
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

5. FAS

... abnormalities, growth deficiency, central nervous system dysfunction, poor motor skills, behavioral and learning problems, difficulties with memory, attention and judgment. In addition to the wonderful explanations of this syndrome it also provided links to free on-line publications and links to topics related to FAS. Statistics related ... to something else such as Attention Deficit Disorder. Although the statistical results often vary one thing was common in every study. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is the leading cause of mental retardation in the United States. This statement completely con...

  • Word Count: 3251
  • Approx Pages: 13
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Drugs And Their Abuses

... consciousness, increased appetite, slowness, tiredness, blood shot eyes, mouth dryness, interrupts linear memory, difficulty following a train of thought and short term memory loss. Marijuana makes a person more peaceful and less aggressive unlike its legal competitor alcohol. Alcohol causes people to get a false confidence and makes them aggressive. Marijuana has been looked down upon since the 1930's ... , and gastrointestinal disturbances, lasting 12 or more hours. Higher doses produce respiratory depression. Chronic use of flunitrazepam can result in physical dependence and the appea...

  • Word Count: 10574
  • Approx Pages: 42

7. Pseudo-Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

... potential for stress, biological contributors, environment and psychological factors to influence the presence of medically inexplicable disorders including Persian Gulf War illness, gastrointestinal disease, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome (p. 375). While the research by Binder and Campbell is helpful to illustrate the multitude of studies investigating similar hypotheses, there are limitations on what should be the means ... amnesia in criminal populations who commit murder and robbery. The case study, (or literature review), is focused on traumatic amnesia, the potential fo...

  • Word Count: 3547
  • Approx Pages: 14
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

8. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Modality

... This is referred to as a "fight-or-flight" response and is a normal reaction to protect the person from harm. For individuals suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome, this reaction becomes modified or damaged. Individuals suffering from PTSD may feel stressed or frightened long after they are no longer in danger. Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress ... Syndrome include reliving the traumatic event, referred to as "flashbacks", easily startled, frequent nightmares, disrupted sleep, angry or aggressive behavior, difficulties with memory, depression, drug or alcohol abuse, and extreme f...

  • Word Count: 1131
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

9. What About the Insanity Defense?

... Slobogin writes: If nothing else, the interaction between the criminal courtroom and the mental health profession has produced some memorable nomenclature. "The abuse excuse," "battered woman syndrome," "child sexual abuse accommodation syndrome," "false memory syndrome," "television intoxication," "urban survival syndrome," "XYY chromosome abnormality"--these are just a few of the colorful appellations used to describe claims that mental health professionals have bolstered with their testimony over the ... ...

  • Word Count: 1163
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

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