Cincinnati Skeptic - Vol 05 No 01 - 1995

Magazine Overview

Title: Cincinnati Skeptic
Issue: Vol. 5, No. 1
Date: October, 1995
Publisher: The Association for Rational Thought (A.R.T.)

This issue of the Cincinnati Skeptic newsletter delves into several topics of interest to skeptics, with a strong focus on the phenomenon of False Memory Syndrome. It also covers the rise of creationism in Cincinnati, critiques of media and scientific reporting, and discussions on psychic phenomena.

False Memory Syndrome

The lead article, based on a presentation by Bob Contadino, a social worker and founder of a local false memory syndrome support group, provides an in-depth look at False Memory Syndrome (FMS). Contadino explains that FMS is a term coined by the False Memory Syndrome Foundation, established about three years prior to help individuals falsely accused of child molestation based on "recovered" memories. The Foundation aims to educate the public about the possibility of false memories.

Contadino distinguishes between "repressed" memories, a Freudian concept where individuals hide troubling memories, and "recovered" memories, which are often central to FMS. He describes the typical FMS patient as a white, college-educated, middle-class woman seeking therapy for common psychological issues. During therapy, she may come to believe she was abused by a family member or acquaintance years ago, even if she never had these memories before. These "recovered" memories can become more elaborate and bizarre over time, leading to estrangement from family and civil or criminal suits, with the "recovered memories" being the sole evidence.

Sigmund Freud's early work with patients, many of whom were women reporting childhood abuse, is discussed. While Freud initially believed these accounts, he later revised his theory upon finding evidence that contradicted some stories, suggesting that some memories might be fantasies, even if they feel real. Today, many therapists are less wary and may even suggest that adult emotional problems stem from forgotten childhood abuse, potentially leading patients to "remember" such abuse.

The article highlights that remembered abuse typically dates back 10-20 years and can escalate from accusations against one person to multiple family members and even events in utero or at six months of age. Close examination often reveals conflicts with other evidence. Some patients report Satanic ritual abuse, including being impregnated and forced to kill their own infants. However, retired FBI agent Kenneth Lanning's investigation found no evidence of a nationwide Satanic conspiracy.

FMS is not a standard psychiatric diagnosis. Patients are often diagnosed with Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD) or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) for insurance reimbursement, though these diagnoses have limitations. The article notes that memory for specific events doesn't develop until around 2.5 years old, and early memories are often distorted. Research indicates that repression is not scientifically supported, but creating false memories is easy.

Suggestibility is a key factor, and some believe MPD itself can be induced by suggestion. The article warns that therapists' expectations can lead patients to develop symptoms that match those expectations, similar to FMS. Hypnotically refreshed memory is not more accurate but is believed more strongly by patients.

Forgetting is common, and even abused individuals may not remember all details. The article cites a case study where repeated questioning about a conventional medical exam led a child to develop an elaborate, false memory. The use of anatomically detailed dolls in therapy is also questioned for its potential to elicit unreliable responses. The False Memory Syndrome Foundation has recorded 15,000-16,000 cases, a number believed to be an underestimate.

Factors contributing to FMS include therapists, abuse reporting laws, revenge-seeking relatives, and religious leaders. Therapists who inadvertently induce false memories may be influenced by a punitive feminist ideology. Mandatory abuse reporting laws, while intended to protect children, can leave the falsely accused unable to defend themselves. The article mentions the Ingram case, where a man confessed to sexual abuse after pressure from his minister and a social psychologist, Richard Offshe, despite evidence suggesting his suggestibility and potential innocence.

Some individuals who have "recovered" memories are now recanting, and lawyers are specializing in defending the falsely accused. Contadino believes accusations of sexual abuse should require corroborating evidence, acknowledging that real abuse cases exist but many are delusional. He notes the difficulty in challenging accusations without being accused oneself.

Creationism in Cincinnati

Joe Gastright, Investigations Chairman, reports on the increasing activity of creationists in Cincinnati. An organization called Answers in Genesis has moved its headquarters there. Gary Parker, head of the science department at Clearwater Christian College, Florida, wrote a pro-creationism editorial in the Cincinnati Enquirer. Answers in Genesis sponsored a two-day program in Cincinnati to promote its beliefs, aiming to establish creationism as a science and argue against evolution. Ken Ham, the group's leader, claims that evolution is responsible for societal problems like lawlessness and crime, and that the Genesis account is literally true. He spoke at Landmark Baptist Church to a large audience, with the church supporting his views and selling his books. The article contrasts this with Cincinnati's high public library circulation, questioning the community's engagement with scientific understanding.

Psychic Science and Skepticism

The May meeting featured a debate with Richard Strong, a safety engineer and self-proclaimed believer in paranormal phenomena, and the skeptical A.R.T. audience. Strong presented claims and experiments related to "Psychic Science," citing Dr. Robert Jahn's research on random number generators and a controversial experiment involving salamander brains. Joe Gastright questioned the methodology, pointing out potential flaws like lack of supervision and the experimenter's wife being the top performer. Strong also discussed the idea that brain fluid might be the source of psychic abilities and mentioned his own experiences using dowsing and predicting equipment failure.

Research Update: Power Lines and Cancer

This section addresses public concern over the potential link between electro-magnetic fields from power lines and cancer. Despite significant spending on mitigation, the American Physical Society, after extensive study, has concluded that there is no consistent, significant link between cancer and power line fields. Physicist David Hafemeister led a study reviewing over 1,000 studies and concluded that conjectures relating cancer to power line fields are not scientifically substantiated. The Earth's magnetic field is significantly stronger than those from power lines, and home appliances also produce magnetic fields.

Book Reviews

Two book reviews are included:

• Madame Blavatsky's Baboon: A History of the Mystics, Mediums, and Misfits Who Brought Spiritualism to America by Peter Washington. This book is described as a history of Theosophy, focusing on its founders and their metaphysical progeny, set within the intellectual context of the past two centuries. It traces the lineage from Blavatsky and Olcott through figures like Charles Leadbeater, Rudolf Steiner, and Anna Kingsford, and discusses the influence of figures like Gurdjieff and Krishnamurti.
• Tainted Truth: The Manipulation of Fact in America by Cynthia Crossen. Crossen, a science reporter for the Wall Street Journal, argues that media reporting of science is often untrustworthy and tainted by special interests. The book examines commercial hype, advertising, drug research, and courtroom testimony, highlighting how shoddy or biased research can be publicized if it serves commercial or political interests. It criticizes the media for sensationalizing preliminary findings and discusses how drug companies can buy compliant scientists. The book concludes with a critique of the adversarial legal system, where lawyers may use "quacks" as expert witnesses, and notes that a shortage of research funds can lead scientists to compromise their integrity.

Other Items

Brief mentions are made of other topics, including the Bermuda Triangle, Facilitated Communication, Faith Healers, Firewalking, The Hundredth Monkey Phenomenon, Hypnotherapy, Is Moon Dust Proof of Recent Creation?, Nebraska Man, and The Velikovsky Phenomenon, listed under "New Blurbs." An update on the relocation of the annual Cold Spring KY Mary sighting vigil is also provided.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are skepticism towards unsubstantiated claims, critical analysis of psychological phenomena like False Memory Syndrome, scrutiny of media and scientific reporting, and a generally rationalist perspective. The Association for Rational Thought (A.R.T.) clearly promotes critical thinking and evidence-based reasoning, challenging pseudoscientific claims and media sensationalism. The editorial stance is one of caution regarding therapeutic techniques that may induce false memories and a strong advocacy for scientific methodology and evidence in public discourse.

Title: Cincinnati Skeptic
Issue: Vol. 5 No. 1
Date: 1995

This issue of the Cincinnati Skeptic features an announcement regarding Joe Nickell joining the staff of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP) and a letter to the editor critiquing the magazine's stance on homeopathy and its citation practices.

Joe Nickell Joins CSICOP Staff

The Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP) announced in June that Joe Nickell, a respected Kentucky skeptic, had joined their staff in Amherst, New York. Nickell was previously a technical writing instructor at the University of Kentucky at Lexington and an active member of the Kentucky Association of Science Educators and Skeptics (KASES). He is now serving as Senior Research Scholar at CSICOP's new Center for Inquiry complex.

Joe Nickell's work has frequently appeared in Skeptical Inquirer, covering topics such as crop circles, spontaneous human combustion, miracles, and the Shroud of Turin. He has also co-authored several books, including "Inquest of the Shroud of Turin," "Secrets of the Supernatural," "Camera Clues," "Mysterious Realms," "Entities," "The Magic Detectives," and "Missing Pieces."

According to CSICOP Executive Director Barry Karr, Nickell is a CSICOP Fellow who often appears on television and radio programs and is frequently interviewed for media articles. In his new capacity, Nickell will handle media inquiries and assist in developing projects to enhance CSICOP's public visibility. He will also collaborate with regional and local skeptical groups and other scientific and educational organizations.

This announcement is attributed to a CSICOP press release dated May 12, 1995.

Letters to the Editor

The "Letters to the Editor" section invites readers to submit letters, with a limit of 250 words or less. Preferred submission is via typed letters, and submissions should include the reader's name, complete address, and phone number. Letters selected for publication may be edited for length.

Critique of Homeopathy and Citation Practices

A letter from Andrew W. Jergens of Cincinnati, Ohio, expresses strong disagreement with a previous article (Cincinnati Skeptic, April 1995) concerning homeopathic medicine. Jergens argues that the article's assertion that "one part per million is a very small dose" is fundamentally flawed when applied to homeopathy.

Jergens explains that homeopathic medicines are diluted to concentrations far less than one part per million. He states that once dilutions exceed one part in (6x10^23)/m (where 'm' is the molecular mass), the amount of the substance remaining is less than one molecule per gram of solution. He contends that it is impossible to have less than one molecule of something, implying that the medicine is effectively absent.

He concludes that homeopathic medicine is "a very expensive version of the stuff that comes out of the tap at the kitchen sink." While acknowledging that belief in homeopathy can produce a placebo effect, Jergens asserts that this is the only benefit derived from it.

Furthermore, Jergens expresses disappointment that many of the blurbs in the magazine cite "Skeptical Inquirer" as the sole reference. He believes that referring to multiple sources would enhance the magazine's credibility. He specifically suggests that including a source that is favorable to the "fuzzy thinking" being examined would ensure a more accurate representation of the topic under discussion.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue clearly aligns with a skeptical viewpoint, as evidenced by the hiring of Joe Nickell, a prominent skeptic, and the publication of a critical letter regarding homeopathy. The magazine appears to promote scientific investigation and critical thinking, encouraging readers to question paranormal claims and pseudoscientific practices. The editorial stance favors evidence-based reasoning and encourages diverse, credible sourcing in its publications.