False Memory Syndrome Foundation - Vol 01 No 02 - 1992 april

Magazine Overview

The FMS Foundation Newsletter, dated April 1, 1992, serves as an update for its members and supporters, detailing the organizational progress, ongoing research, and community engagement efforts. The newsletter expresses gratitude for financial support and pledges, which are enabling the establishment of a serious organization dedicated to its mission.

Organization and Mission

The newsletter outlines the foundational steps being taken to formalize the FMS Foundation. This includes the writing of by-laws, securing office space, purchasing equipment like a FAX machine, organizing files, and establishing scrupulous bookkeeping methods. Volunteer coordination and exploration of funding agencies are also underway, with plans to announce the first FMS Fellows soon. A key concern is structuring connections between diverse groups to ensure organized, creative, and efficient efforts, avoiding duplication and leveraging collective experiences. The newsletter itself is positioned as a filter and conduit of information. The organization plans to appoint regional liaisons within the next few weeks.

Preliminary Survey Results

Significant space is dedicated to preliminary results from a survey based on the first 73 returned questionnaires. Holly Wakefield and Pam are managing the survey, with data being entered into a database for analysis. Dr. Harold Lief is mentioned as planning a presentation on false memories in June, and Holly Wakefield and Ralph Underwager have organized a symposium on the topic. The survey data indicates that the group is generally well-educated, economically above average, and over 50 years old, spanning diverse religious, political, professional, and regional backgrounds. The newsletter acknowledges the potential for groups like this to fractionalize due to stress and differing opinions, emphasizing the need to focus on the common goal of helping children. The survey also presents data on socioeconomic status, current family income, and marital status of parents. Satisfaction with marriage among 58 married parents shows 84% reporting happy to extremely happy marriages. Educational backgrounds of accused parents and accusing children are detailed, with a notable percentage of accusing children having some college or a BA/BS degree.

National Institutes of Health Study

Frank Putnam, a Senior Investigator at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is conducting a study to track pernicious rumors on the child-abuse circuit. His goal is to produce clear evidence of how rumors contribute to the creation and transmission of false information and allegations. He is asking for information if anyone encounters the statement: "Dr. Putnam of the NIMH has found that 20% to 50% of multiple personality disorder patients have histories of satanic ritual abuse." Specific details to record include the date, location, source, and approximate number of people involved.

Meetings and Events

Several meetings are announced for different regions:

• Philadelphia Area: Saturday, April 11, 1992, 1:00 PM. Agenda includes forming working committees for programs, office support, outreach, research, publicity, newsletter, and fundraising. RSVP to Liz at 708-827-1056.
• Midwest Area: Saturday, April 25, 1992, 1:00 PM at the Holiday Inn - Holidome in Benton Harbor, Michigan. Participants need to make their own reservations. Lynn, who has recognized false memories of abuse, will share her experience. Holly and Pam will present survey information.
• Southern California: Thursday, May 7, 1992, 7:00 PM. Contact Doug Wilson at 619-943-75-72.
• Florida: Saturday, May 16, 1992, 1:00 PM. Contact 800-374-7477.

The Dallas workshop on March 20-21 is described as a successful outreach effort to the professional community, attended by mental health professionals and parents. It served as a model for future outreach and featured a program outline on memory research prepared by Holly Wakefield and Ralph Underwager. The newsletter notes that eight families who learned about each other through an article about Gloria Grady have come together and are involved with the same clinic.

Notices and Calls for Contributions

The newsletter thanks contributors of materials for publication and encourages siblings to share their experiences of living with someone with false memories. It acknowledges the pain and heartbreak involved, assuring that professional writers can help polish stories and that all identifying references will be removed. Stories can be sent to the FMS Foundation in Philadelphia. Readers are also asked if their experiences with false memories have included being sued, as this information is needed by other families.

Resources and Information

Information is available for ordering "Investigator's Guide to Allegations of 'Ritual' Child Abuse" by Kenneth Lanning for $5.00, as the FBI has run out of copies.

Actions and Media Monitoring

The newsletter provides specific actions individuals can take to help the organization, including sending names and addresses of local media outlets, reaching out to professional communities, and placing notices in newsletters of other organizations. It also addresses the problem of false accusations based on recovered "memories" and directs people to contact the False Memory Syndrome Foundation through the Institute for Psychological Therapies if they have been falsely accused.

The organization plans to monitor the media and respond to one-sided reporting. They emphasize the importance of accurate information and address the shocking misinformation surrounding false accusations based on repressed memories. The newsletter intends to discuss topics like "body memories" in future issues.

Sexual Abuse Statistics and Concerns

Regarding statistics on sexual abuse, the newsletter cites the National Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse, noting that retrospective surveys show significant variation in reported experiences (6% to 62% for females, 3% to 31% for males). The newsletter expresses deep concern that 65% of abuse accusations are now unsubstantiated, a significant increase from 35% in 1976. This trend is seen as dangerous, potentially causing genuine cases to be missed and families to be unnecessarily destroyed, with children living with the belief they were victims when they were not.

Key issues for media reporting on sexual abuse statistics are highlighted: limitations of retrospective data, confusion over the definition of sexual abuse, and the reliability of figures with wide variations.

Questions You Have Asked

• Two questions are addressed:
• What is a pedophile? It is defined as a diagnostic term for a "child-molester," with DSM-III noting that heterosexually oriented males may prefer young girls for looking or touching.
• What is the DSM-III? The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Third Edition) is published by the American Psychiatric Association and standardizes diagnoses of mental disorders by specifying symptoms. Insurance companies generally cover diagnoses listed in DSM-III.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently advocates for the FMS Foundation's mission to support families dealing with issues surrounding false memories, particularly in the context of child abuse allegations. There is a strong emphasis on the need for accurate information, media monitoring, and organized community efforts. The editorial stance appears to be one of concern over unsubstantiated accusations and their devastating impact on families, while acknowledging the reality of sexual abuse. The organization aims to provide a platform for shared experiences, research, and advocacy.