False Memory Syndrome Foundation - Vol 02 No 08 - 1993 aug

Magazine Overview

Title: FMS Foundation Newsletter
Issue: Vol 2 No.8
Date: August 30, 1993
Publisher: FMS Foundation
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of the FMS Foundation Newsletter reports on a perceived shift in the climate surrounding the FMS (False Memory Syndrome) phenomenon. The newsletter highlights indications of change in media coverage and public understanding, suggesting a growing awareness of issues related to memory and suggestibility.

Professional and Enforcement Indications

The newsletter notes that the American Medical Association (AMA) has issued a resolution warning about the potential for misapplication of "memory enhancement" techniques in recovered memory of abuse cases. While specific techniques were not mentioned, the data suggests common methods include hypnosis, sodium amytal, guided imagery, survivor groups, self-help books, dream interpretation, and body massages. The newsletter cautions that memories developed through these techniques can be a mixture of fact and fantasy, and that they have the potential to be especially suggestive for vulnerable clients.

Additionally, a major FBI probe into fraud at private mental hospitals is mentioned, indicating a focus on "economic issues."

Family Indications

The issue highlights a significant trend reported in letters from families: a decrease in accusations of sexual abuse, with some families reporting a shift to "dysfunctional family abuse." There has been a notable increase in families reporting renewed contact with alienated children. Siblings who once believed accusations are now initiating contact, and some estranged children are sending letters or making calls expressing love. Parents who have reached out have often received positive responses, leading to renewed contact. However, this change brings new challenges, as some parents now refuse resumed contact unless there is a full retraction of accusations, questioning how a meaningful relationship can be built without accountability for past actions.

Scientific Issues: Memory and Trauma

The newsletter delves into scientific discussions surrounding memory, noting a shift in terminology from "repression" to "traumatic forgetting" or "traumatic amnesia." It cites research suggesting that while experimental verification of repression is weak, traumatic forgetting has been documented. The article questions whether memories implanted through techniques like hypnosis are genuine or artifacts of therapy, referencing studies that indicate memories are reconstructed and reinterpreted.

Yapko Study: Therapists' Understanding of Memory

A significant portion of the newsletter is dedicated to the findings of a study by Michael Yapko, Ph.D., a psychologist specializing in hypnosis. Yapko surveyed 869 therapists nationwide to assess their understanding of memory processes. The results revealed that many therapists hold common myths, such as believing that a lack of childhood memories is most likely due to trauma, or that hypnosis can recover memories from past lives. The study also indicated that 60% of respondents do not attempt to distinguish between true and false memories.

Yapko describes a "confusion technique" used in informal hypnosis, where therapists deliberately disorient clients to build responsiveness, potentially leading them to believe things about themselves that may not be true. The newsletter suggests that the mental health community lacks a system for addressing such issues, contrasting it with the swift response to a hypodermic found in a soda can.

Legal and Economic Issues

The newsletter discusses changes in legal standards for scientific testimony, with the Supreme Court's Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals decision replacing the Frye test, requiring judges to act as gatekeepers for scientific evidence. This raises questions about how the "theory of repression" will be evaluated.

Economically, the newsletter notes the rising cost of healthcare and the increasing discussion about what types of mental health care will be covered by insurance. It points out that insurance providers are implementing policy changes, such as requiring direct payment to therapists and demanding good faith efforts to involve accused parents in the diagnosis process for "recovered memories of abuse" cases. The article questions whether accusations based on "recovered memories of abuse" exploded as insurance payments for other in-hospital recovery programs were cut, suggesting a potential link between economic factors and the rise of such claims.

The "Recovery Movement" and Adversarial Stances

The newsletter critiques the "recovery movement," suggesting it has become a "major American industry." It notes a drop in recovery book sales and the emergence of books debunking the movement. The issue highlights a controversial conference where therapists cheered a denunciation of parents, raising questions about professional ethics and the "do no harm" principle.

The newsletter also addresses accusations of being "adversarial," citing an exchange between Jack Collier and Ellen Bass. It defends its position by highlighting the potential for therapeutic litigation and the need for therapists to consider the evidence and the patient's claims, while also acknowledging the importance of confidentiality. The FMSF argues that the accuser should bear the burden of proof.

From Our Readers

Several letters from readers are included. One letter from David L. Calof expresses distress over the FMS Foundation's use of his research criteria, accusing the foundation of manipulation and attacking therapists. The FMSF responds by clarifying its position and questioning Calof's assertions.

Another section features "Story after Story" from families, detailing the emotional toll of accusations and estrangement. A "Many Kinds of Trauma" section contrasts the response to documented traumas like riots with the response to alleged child abuse, suggesting a disproportionate focus on the latter. A "Feelings After Contact is Resumed" section shares personal reflections from mothers dealing with reconciliation.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The FMS Foundation Newsletter consistently advocates for a critical examination of recovered memory claims, emphasizing the role of suggestibility and the potential for therapeutic techniques to create false memories. The publication appears to support families who are accused of abuse and are seeking to understand and navigate the complexities of these allegations. The editorial stance is one of caution regarding the "recovery movement" and a call for scientific rigor and ethical practice in therapy. The newsletter aims to provide a platform for professionals and families to discuss these issues, often challenging prevailing narratives and encouraging a balanced perspective.

This issue of the FMS Foundation Newsletter, dated August & September 1993, focuses on the complexities of memory, particularly in the context of accusations of sexual abuse and UFO abductions. The newsletter, published by the False Memory Syndrome Foundation, aims to raise awareness about the potential for 'false memories' to be created or influenced by therapeutic processes and external suggestions. It features articles, letters, and meeting announcements relevant to its mission.

Evidence of a Mind Set

This section presents a personal account of a friend who was asked a series of questions during a drunk driving interview, two of which focused on sexual abuse. The friend answered 'no' to these questions, but the accompanying remarks classified her as 'denying being abused' and 'in deep denial.' The author finds this approach remarkable and illogical, suggesting that any answer is interpreted as confirmation of abuse or denial of it.

It's Important to Write Letters

This short piece emphasizes the power of individual letters in making a difference. An anecdote is shared about a TV executive who stated that one letter is equivalent to the feelings of 100,000 people, highlighting the impact of written communication.

A Daughter's Call

This personal narrative details a difficult conversation with a daughter who, after a long period of no contact, calls to discuss her new graduate program in psychiatric nursing. The daughter claims that her past suffering as a child contributes to her skill as a therapist. She reclassifies her parents from 'child abusers' to 'negligent parents,' citing her father's absence and her mother's occasional anger. The daughter also states she did not feel 'safe' to disclose her inner feelings, and is now sure she was not sexually abused. The parent expresses distress over the estrangement and the daughter's accusations, noting that a friend's daughter has also accused her parents of not showing sufficient love, leading to a similar therapeutic reinterpretation of her upbringing as child abuse.

Taking Action

Written by 'A Mom,' this section describes a family's decision to take offensive action due to a daughter's worsening psychological condition and increasingly bizarre charges. The family is consulting an attorney to file a lawsuit to gain custody of the daughter, believing it is their only alternative.

Even in South Africa

This account, from 'Parents,' describes a distressing experience following their golden wedding anniversary. One daughter, under a truth drug, implicated her father in child molestation, with a tape recording of her statement presented to the family. The author describes the shock and the subsequent wall of shame and suspicion. A therapist reportedly told them that their public image as respected individuals fit the profile of a child molester and warned of potential imprisonment.

Please Hurry Up

This letter from 'A Dad' expresses his belief that his daughter has been brainwashed by therapists and is pathetically sick. He feels sorry for her, stating that the therapists are the perpetrators who have destroyed his daughter's mind and devastated their lives. He is 72 years old and wishes for his daughter to recant, but fears she is continuing to harm other families through her incest therapy group. He notes her BA in Sociology but questions her qualifications to counsel.

LOGICAL THINKING?

This section includes a letter from Pamela Freyd, Executive Director of the False Memory Syndrome Foundation, to Vanity Fair magazine, commenting on an article about the satanic conspiracy theory. Freyd suggests that if Vanity Fair wishes to explore conspiracy theories, they should consider space-alien abduction specialists, citing John Mack M.D. as a potential source of material. She urges the magazine to apply the same journalistic standards to these theories as to other issues.

Leslie Bennetts' reply to Freyd is also included. Bennetts argues that equating ritual-abuse reports with UFO abduction stories is dishonest and misleading. She states that believing in UFO abductions requires belief in extraterrestrials, while ritual abuse requires belief in human capacity for extreme violence, which is documented. Bennetts asserts that her article reported both sides and did not take a position on the ritual-abuse controversy. She criticizes the habit of critics who claim the only difference between UFO and ritual abuse memories is believability, and points out that therapists who insist they don't take a stand on memory validity still label patients as survivors and parents as perpetrators.

Freyd's response to Bennetts' reply further elaborates on the FMSF's stance. She argues that the processes used to arrive at memories of UFO abductions and ritual abuse are the same, involving 'memory enhancement techniques.' She stresses the importance of caution and corroboration when evaluating such memories. Freyd also criticizes therapists who label patients as survivors and parents as perpetrators, suggesting they should use the terms 'accuser' and 'accused' for consistency.

AH YES, I REMEMBER IT WELL..

This piece by Elsie, a retired Helpline Counsellor, discusses memory and its fallibility, particularly in the context of sexual abuse claims. She notes that memory is selective and deceptive, and that 'extraordinary memory' or recalling forgotten events should be treated with extra caution. She traces the concept of 'False Memory Syndrome' back to earlier ideas like cryptomnesia and the 'Bridie Murphy' memoirs, where memories of past lives were explained as recycled information. Elsie emphasizes that 'this-life' experiences, if read about or suggested, can be recycled and presented as actual occurrences. She urges caution when encountering a spate of 'memories' of childhood sexual abuse, especially when they relate to parental abuse. She critiques the misinterpretation of Freud and the distortion of the idea that sexual abuse might explain emotional problems into a certainty, leading to the reverse argument that emotional problems must be due to sexual abuse.

Elsie also discusses the definition of 'sexual abuse of children,' noting that it can range from gross acts to more subtle inappropriate actions. She questions at what age certain interactions, like a father helping a daughter in the bath, become inappropriate, highlighting the subjective nature of these judgments. She concludes that the extensive literature on sexual abuse often follows a script based on anecdotal testimony, and while not to be dismissed, requires caution. She points out that 'memories' of abuse often surface during therapy for emotional problems and can go back to infancy, with the adult client often in their thirties, forties, or fifties.

Elsie recounts a letter to The Guardian where a writer stated she had no conscious memory of her father's abuse but 'believed what her body told her' after therapy. Elsie suggests that such 'diagnoses' of child abuse can have severe consequences, increasing unhappiness, fostering revenge, and causing bitterness and strife within families, which is the opposite of healing.

There are some things so strange only an expert can believe them.

This section includes a quote from an unknown source at a meeting, asking for the source of the quote: "There are some things so strange only an expert can believe them."

The extensive literature on sex abuse follows a definite script or scenario.

This part of Elsie's article continues the discussion on sexual abuse literature. She notes that few cases go to court, making much of the literature anecdotal, based on testimony from individuals claiming childhood sexual abuse and therapists. She reiterates the need for caution, especially when adults suddenly 'remember' abuse during therapy. These memories can be detailed and may go back to infancy. Elsie contrasts this with her own experience as a Helpline Counsellor, where people remembered their experiences clearly and found them haunting. She notes that those who claim to have 'suddenly remembered' abuse are different, often having emotional problems for which they received therapy, and that these 'memories' can be influenced by suggestion.

Elsie shares her perspective as someone uninvolved in sexual abuse claims, neither having been abused nor accused. She states that while some people she spoke to on the helpline remembered their experiences, they couldn't forget them and often felt affection for the abuser and guilt. She contrasts this with those who 'suddenly remember' abuse, suggesting they are more susceptible to suggestion and that their 'memories' can be influenced by the therapist's interpretation. She concludes by stating that falsely accused individuals face a dreadful predicament, and that while the 'witches' of Salem were pardoned centuries later, it offers little comfort, implying that human beings do not learn from the past.

FMSF Meetings

This section lists upcoming FMSF meetings scheduled for September-October 1993, organized by region: Families & Professionals Networking Together, Professional Seminars in Phoenix and Scranton, and meetings in various states including Alaska, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Michigan, Ohio & Kentucky, Wisconsin, Canada (British Columbia), and the United Kingdom.

Video Tapes and Correction

Information is provided on obtaining video tapes of FMSF meetings and conferences. A correction is also noted regarding the price of the book "True Stories of False Memories" by Eleanor Goldstein and Kevin Farmer, with an updated price and ordering information.

FMSF Family Survey - SRA and Religion

Data from the FMSF family survey is presented, showing a correlation between belief in Satanic Ritual Abuse (SRA) conspiracies and religious activity. Families reporting SRA accusations were almost twice as likely to report being very active in their religion.

Recommended Reading

A recommendation is made for an article titled "The power of nonspecific effects in healing: Implications for psychosocial and biological treatments" published in Clinical Psychology Review.

Article Order Form

An article order form is included, listing various articles available for purchase from journals, magazines, and newspapers, related to repressed memories, UFO abductions, and false accusations. Payment methods include VISA, MC, Check, or Money Order.

Membership and Contributions

Information on FMS Foundation membership dues and special contributions is provided, along with details on how to mail contributions. The foundation is tax-exempt, and contributions are tax-deductible.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the nature of memory, the potential for false memories, and the impact of therapeutic interventions, particularly in cases of alleged childhood sexual abuse and UFO abductions. The FMS Foundation's stance is critical of therapies that may implant or suggest memories without sufficient corroboration, emphasizing the importance of critical thinking and evidence. The newsletter advocates for a cautious approach to recovered memories, especially when they lead to accusations against parents or others. There is a strong emphasis on educating the public and professionals about the potential pitfalls of memory recovery and the need for rigorous scientific investigation. The editorial stance is one of skepticism towards unsubstantiated claims of recovered memories and a concern for the well-being of individuals and families affected by these issues, including those falsely accused.