Reply #221: There have been a few cases of quackery; but research has shown clearly

[pnwmom]

that the phenomenon of repressed (or forgotten) and later recovered memories is actually quite real among many traumatized patients.

The self-promoting work of Dr. Elizabeth Loftus -- and her paid courtroom testimony -- is often pointed to by those who deny the existence of repressed memories, but even SHE doesn't make that claim. She has designed lab experiments that show the ability of researchers to implant false memories in their subjects.

Many other researchers work with patients who have undergone various sorts of trauma, and have trauma-associated amnesia as a result. Their research shows that a significant portion of traumatized patients experience amnesia related to their trauma, but when they recover their memories, those memories are as reliable as those who have had continuous memories.

The few cases of quackery hurt real victims of trauma (with repressed and recovered memories) in the same way that false rape accusers hurt real rape victims: people like you discount the reports of real victims because of the few false claims.


This Harvard researcher has put together a compilation of research on the subject.

http://www.jimhopper.com/memory/

"Amnesia for childhood sexual abuse is a condition.

The existence of this condition is beyond dispute.


Repression is merely one explanation

– often a confusing and misleading one –

for what causes the condition of amnesia.


At least 10% of people sexually abused in childhood

will have periods of complete amnesia for their abuse,

followed by experiences of delayed recall."